Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has strongly condemned Indian Nobel laureate Amartya Sen over his recent remarks expressing concern about Bangladesh’s current political situation.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Shafiqur accused Sen of hypocrisy, stating, “For over 15 years, the people of Bangladesh have endured extreme double standards in the name of secularism. His open support for a fallen autocrat is shocking, unacceptable, and deserves condemnation.”
Sen, in an interview with Press Trust of India (PTI), voiced “deep concern” over Bangladesh’s ongoing crisis and remarked that Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus would have to make significant efforts to resolve the deadlock.
Reacting to these comments, Shafiqur criticized Sen for meddling in Bangladesh’s affairs. “Amartya Sen has made unwarranted statements interfering in our internal matters,” he said.
“I do not know where his conscience lies. Bangladesh does not need lessons on tolerance. He should reflect on the state of the society he himself belongs to before lecturing others.”
During the interview, Sen cautioned against banning the Awami League, warning that such a move would mirror the same mistakes the party had been accused of in the past.
He also condemned attacks on Hindu minorities and the vandalism of temples, stressing that both the government and the public have a duty to prevent such violence. “Historically, Bangladesh has upheld tolerance and restrained communal forces like Jamaat. Unfortunately, attacks on mosques have also occurred in India. Such incidents, whether in Bangladesh or India, must be stopped,” Sen stated.
In response, Shafiqur dismissed Sen’s remarks about Jamaat-e-Islami, calling them biased. “His views are rooted in prejudice, and the reality is entirely different,” he asserted.
He further stated, “The Awami League is the true ‘monster’ responsible for persecuting the very people he calls minorities. If he has the courage, he should say that outright. But he won’t—because he is a so-called intellectual with a narrow mindset.”
“The patriotic people of Bangladesh reject foreign interference in our internal matters,” Shafiqur concluded.
