Shaping political awareness by shifting self-serving mindsets
Shaping political awareness by shifting self-serving mindsets
Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq
Linguist and former professor
Author: Linguist and former professor, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka.
Foreign language use must follow national language policy
A state remains dynamic through internal and interstate conflicts and synthesis. Within a state, separate groups arise based on factors such as tribes, religious communities, regional characteristics, linguistic differences, etc. Diversity prevails in the state’s populace. By acknowledging this diversity and adhering to the principle of unity and coordination within diversity, the government must address the issues arising from this diversity in the internal demographic of the state. While advocating for pluralism in culture, if divisions are created within the nation, unity will break down, and the state will not endure. This undermines the very conditions necessary for the state's existence.
Cultural heritage must reflect history
Even after the people of Bangladesh established an independent and sovereign state through a nine-month-long bloody war, they still cannot contemplate the distinct national culture of Bangladesh. Their perspective is backward-looking. A section of Bangladesh’s writers, artists, and politicians exhibit a strong aversion to the culture of India, particularly the culture of West Bengal. These individuals trace the origins of Bangladesh's culture to the medieval Middle Eastern culture, especially the history of the spread of Islam. They do not wish to look beyond the conquest of Lakhnauti and Gour by Bakhtiyar Khalji. They focus on the propagation of Islam in Arabia, the Turkey, Afghan, and Mughal periods of rule in Bengal, and follow the trend of the Wahhabi and Faraji movements, leading to the establishment of the two-nation theory and Pakistan, and then to Bangladesh’s history. They emphasize the two-nation theory. It seems as though, not long ago, in 2004, a group of intellectuals gathered in Paltan Maidan with 17 horses to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Bakhtiyar Khalji's conquest of Lakhnauti, an event that gained significant media attention. A section of Bangladesh’s writers, artists, and intellectuals are devoted to Rabindranath Tagore, while another section is devoted to Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Internationalism isn't antithetical to nationalism, rather supplementary
Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque is an educator and thinker. The former professor of the Department of Bangla at the University of Dhaka recently spoke with Views Bangladesh on mob culture, the deterioration of the education system, and nationalism. Girish Goiric, Associate Editor of Views Bangladesh, conducted the interview.
Constitutional Amendment: Elected government should lead the change
Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, an esteemed educator and thinker, and former professor in the Bangla Department at Dhaka University, recently shared his perspectives with 'Views Bangladesh.' In an interview with Girish Gairik, the assistant editor of 'Views Bangladesh,' Haque discussed his views on potential changes to the Constitution and the national anthem of Bangladesh.
No progressive force can be found in the country now
In seeking an answer to the question of which path Bangladesh is on, we must examine the clear objective of establishing a powerful, prosperous, and democratic state. Mere protest and resistance against malevolent forces yield no significant benefit; at best, they may only replace one corrupt power with another. Constructive thought and action are necessary. We must break the existing laws, regulations, and structures to establish better ones, not to perpetuate disorder. We need to break down the old to build anew, not just to destroy. The focus now must be on building.