Someone with conscience can never harm others: Chanchal Chowdhury

National Award winning actor Chanchal Chowdhury has managed to please both audience and critics with his performance in productions like "Rupkothar Golpo", "Monpura", "Television", "Aynabaji", and "Debi". His web film "Munshigiri", directed by Amitabh Reza, was released on Chorki recently.

The actor was visiting his family in his hometown for puja and has returned to the sets recently.

In an interview with The Daily Star, Chanchal Chowdhury shares his views on the recent religious conflicts and tensions and talks about his principles and ideology in this regard.

How do you feel about the recent Arson attack in Rangpur?

"Humanity" is a very deep word. We are humans above all, and that is where our identity lies. However, we are forgetting and forsaking this identity. Such incidents only reinforce this fact and take away our humane side. It seems we only appear humane but the question that comes into my mind is are we?

Do you feel people nowadays are less respectful and accepting of others around them?

I believe a person with the right conscience can never harm others around them. They can never support injustice or engage in bad deeds.

Being respectful and humble is a teaching that comes from family. This teaching is further preached via social interactions and activities.

I believe most people residing in my country are good but a few rotten apples spoil the whole basket.

As far as religion is concerned, I believe we should be respectful towards every belief. Freedom should be allowed when it comes to choosing one's faith. If we learn to respect each other's preferences, such envious incidents will be replaced by harmony and unity.

Do you feel you have lost our right to rebel?

Absolutely! We seldom raise our voice but that should not be the case. Injustice should be always rebelled against, but the rebellion has to be meaningful, productive and in an orderly manner.  

What is your opinion about such religious conflicts?

If you claim to be humane, embrace humanity – that's all I intend to practice and preach.  

To what extent are we allowed to think freely?

Free thinking is a utopia nowadays. We wanted to be liberated but in recent times, we often forget that we are social beings who should reform the malpractices in society.

Being accepting of others and more tolerant towards differences is what will lead to enhanced free thinking in young minds, but we have to have the right conscience first. Only then will we be able to enjoy diversity instead of despising differences.

Self and others are not how we should be judging cultural or religious differences, rather we should be altruists to one another.

Many seem to claim that the accused somehow manage to dodge punishment. What are your views in this regard?

Just as a coin has two sides, there is bad and good in every existence, and we humans are no different. Crime should be punished and that's the law. I believe justice never goes unserved.

Translated by Ashley Shoptorshi Samaddar