It will be mistake to forget other nations in Bangladesh

Failure to solve the nationality issues in Pakistan and India would cause those countries to disintegrate, said Prof Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury yesterday at the capital's Bangla Academy.

Analysing the weakness in the idea of the nation state of Pakistan and how it led to the Liberation War of 1971, the eminent educationalist also warned that Bangladesh like Pakistan also belonged to people of different national backgrounds.

"There are other nationalities, no matter how small in number. It would be a mistake to forget that we are not a one-nation state, we are a democratic state. In this era the idea of one nation one state is no longer possible," Prof Choudhury said in his memorial speech marking the third death anniversary of educationalist and Liberation War organiser Prof Khan Sarwar Murshid.

Choudhury's speech focused on how the notion of forming a nation state based on religion was doomed to fail from the very beginning of its creation. He referred to memoirs and autobiographies by Pakistani generals to present their perception of Pakistani nationalism and its weaknesses.

The programme was organised by civil society group Samaj Rupantar Oddhayan Kendra with the help of non-government organisation Brotee. Artistes of Sadhana, a cultural organisation, initiated the programme with songs and dance performances.  Prof Ahmed Kamal chaired the programme.