2 societies emerging within a nation: Prof Sobhan
NN Online:
East West University (EWU) hosted the 6th Nahreen Khan Memorial Lecture on 27 November 2024, at the Manzur Elahi Auditorium.
The keynote address was delivered by renowned economist Professor Rehman Sobhan. His lecture titled “Constructing A More Just Society in Bangladesh.” During the lecture, he discussed the persistent issue of inequality in Bangladesh, focusing on four critical areas– market injustice, inequitable social opportunity, political injustice, and state injustice, reads a press release.
He underscored the long-standing deprivation faced by farmers, who have been trapped in generational poverty, while middlemen, operating through syndicates and wielding significant capital influence, reap the majority of benefits. He noted the vast inequalities within the market in terms of information, wealth, and access to credit.
Professor Sobhan also addressed the disparities in education and healthcare, saying, “These inequalities are creating two distinct societies in Bangladesh. Those who can afford quality education and healthcare receive it, while the less fortunate are left behind. The nature of political participation also favors the wealthy, a significant portion of the members of parliament are businessmen, which often leads to a cycle where power is used to further expand their business interests.”
He argued that, historically, the state has prioritised certain groups, such as businessmen, bureaucrats, and military personnel, resulting in poor individuals not receiving the benefits of state facilities.
Despite the grim situation, Professor Sobhan offered words of hope and several recommendations. He mentioned the efforts of the interim government led by Professor Yunus, who envisions eradicating poverty. He urged the establishment of national goals to eliminate discrimination, suggesting the creation of equal opportunities for ethnic and religious minorities as well as women.
Sobhan argued that providing private land to the landless could boost production in the country and that giving workers ownership stakes in industrial factories could increase output while reducing unrest. Furthermore, he recommended allocating at least 5 per cent of the national budget to the education sector and implementing a universal healthcare insurance system through public-private partnerships.
The lecture was organised in memory of the late Nahreen Khan, a former student of East West University and the daughter of the late Dr Akbar Ali Khan, who served as an adviser to the caretaker government of Bangladesh.
The program also featured addresses from several notable figures, including EWU Chief Advisor and former governor of Bangladesh Bank Professor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, Vice-Chancellor of EWU Professor Dr Shams Rahman, former professor of the Department of English at Dhaka University Professor Dr Fakrul Alam, and Treasurer of EWU Air Cdre (retd) Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury. Faculty members, students, EWU officials, and relatives of the late Nahreen Khan were also present at the event.