Bangabandhu’s constitutional, economic policies still effective: Speakers

The Economic Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Dr. Mashiur said the recent economic developments of the country that have been the centre point of discussion across the world would have been impossible without the visionary economic policy adopted by Bangabandhu after 1971.

He said, "Bangabandhu wanted to build a social-democratic state. He nationalised the industries in the country so that the Bangladeshi industrial sector could never fall into monopolies of capitalists like that of 22 families of erstwhile Pakistan".

The advisor said what Bangabandhu had envisioned to be the basis of the constitutional and economic system after the liberation war based on 4 principles of the constitution are still in effect. He was speaking as chief guest on a commemorative lecture on "Bangabandhuke Kache Theke Dekha: Remembrance by His Contemporaries," organised by BIDS in the city on Wednesday.

Dr Mashiur who was the personal secretary to Bangabandhu and served more than 3 years, said Bangabandhu was a man of principle and always selected pragmatic ways to any problem.

He stated that none of the family members of Bangabandhu had led a lavish lifestyle, rather, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib used to preach to all her children to become humble.

Former Superintendent of Police, (1973-1975), Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, Former Pro-Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka, Dr. Nasreen Ahmad and Liberation War-based Writer and Researcher, Lt. Col (Retd.) Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir, Bir Protik were the distinguished speakers at the event. Among others the director board of BIDS and many researchers were present in the meeting. The event was conducted by the Director General of BIDS, Dr. Binayak Sen.

“Without Bangabandhu's visionary decision making capabilities we would not have been able to become members of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) that early. This is because the World Bank had set a precondition to become its member---to clear the debts taken by Pakistani Administration before 1971---that Bangabandhu had opposed,” Dr Mashiur said.

Bangabandhu straightforward proposed the World Bank to withdraw such a condition and simultaneously advised his financial advisors to convey a survey on the volume of loan that the Erstwhile East Pakistan owed the WB group.

Bangladesh later agreed to pay the amount of debt spent on its soil by the Pakistani Administration before 1971 and the World Bank agreed to this arrangement. Such talented approaches of Bangabandhu towards financial deals are unmatched by any leader.

Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, former Superintendent of Police, Dhaka (1973-1975) also shared his memories with Bangabandhu. He shared a special memory between Bangabandhu and himself. Mahbub said Bangabandhu went out of house at night in disguise with him to check out the condition of people in the city. He shared this loving memory of Bangabandhu and also remembered that to ensure a proper disguise, Bangabandhu did wear a shawl so that people wouldn't recognize him. He quoted Bangabandhu as the architecture of modern police. Bangabandhu ordered the recruitment of women in the police force which was later followed by the Bangladesh military.

Liberation War-Based Writer and Researcher, Lt. Col (Retd.) Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir, Bir Protik, shared how he left Pakistan for Bangladesh amidst the war to fight for his nation. He termed the liberation war as 'people's war' and Bangabandhu as 'people's evergreen leader'.

Former Pro-Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka, Dr. Nasreen Ahmad and her family was a neighbour to Bangabandhu and his family. She shared her childhood memories on 'Sheikh mama' (maternal uncle). She admired how after facing all the political crisis and amidst all the unrest, Bangabandhu always was a family-person.

The event was organised at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies seminar room. Many researchers joined the event via zoom link.