The role and vision of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the making of the Bangladesh nation state

Prof. Rehman Sobhan, Chairman (Centre for Policy Dialogue)

Abstract

Bangladesh was shaped by the forces of history, geography and culture. But it took a unique act of political entrepreneurship to draw upon these elemental forces to forge the nation state of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman emerged to provide that entrepreneurship at the right time and in the right place. In giving substance to the idea of a nation state Bangabandhu’s vision for the future was in turn shaped by the challenges he confronted during the course of the struggle and his own commitment to the idea of a just society.

Biography

Professor Rehman Sobhan was educated at St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling, Aitichison College, Lahore and Cambridge University where he was awarded an MA in Economics. He began his working career at the faculty of Economics, Dhaka University in 1957 and retired as Professor of Economics in 1977. He served as Member, Bangladesh Planning Commission, in charge of the Divisions of Industry, Power and Natural Resources, and of Physical Infrastructure, as Chairman, Research Director, Director General and Emeritus Fellow, BIDS from and as a Visiting Fellow, Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford. He was a Member of the Advisory Council of the President of Bangladesh in 1991, in charge of the Ministry of Planning and the Economic Relations Division. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). He has been the Executive Director, South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS), a Visiting Scholar, Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University and a Senior Research Fellow, at the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance, Harvard University. Currently he is the Chairman of CPD.

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Organiser: In association with 7th March Foundation

Contact email: ssai@soas.ac.uk