Fundamentalists' economy growing
Says Dr Abul Barakat
Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman, centre, receives Jahanara Imam Memorial Award-2012 from Prof Borhanuddin Khan Jahangir, advisory council president of Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee, which conferred the honour on him, at WAV auditorium in the capital yesterday. Photo: STAR
The degree of "communalisation of economy" has been increased radically over the last four decades in Bangladesh, economist Dr Abul Barkat said yesterday. The growing economic strength of fundamentalists has created the opportunity for setting up of a strong base of politics of fundamentalism in Bangladesh, he said. "The net profit of 'economy of fundamentalism' can be estimated at Tk 2,000 crore annually in Bangladesh. Major portion of this profit comes from different financial organisations like banks, insurance and leasing companies." He placed recommendations including confiscating the wealth involving fundamentalists and militants to resist militancy. Dr Barkat was delivering "Jahanara Imam Memorial Speech 2012" at the capital's WVA auditorium on the occasion of the 18th death anniversary of Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam, organised by Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee. Addressing the function, Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman emphasised people's unity to resist fundamentalism and militancy and hoped the government would complete trial of some war criminals by the tenure. Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah (Bir Uttam), a sector commander and former Army chief, urged the government to nationalise the financial organisations run by fundamental forces to shut their income source. Cultural personality Kamal Lohani urged all to strengthen anti-fundamentalism movement that was launched by Jahanara Imam. Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee advisory council President Prof Borhanuddin Khan Jahangir chaired the function, while the committee executive president Shahriar Kabir, its vice president Shamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, among others, also spoke on the occasion. The committee conferred Jahanara Imam Memorial Award-2012 on Prof Anisuzzaman and Gonotantrik Ainjibi Samity for their contribution in anti-communalism movement.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments