The British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake has said the recent attacks on bloggers, foreigners, human-rights activists, civil society figures, and religious and other minorities are assaults on the “hard-won” freedom of Bangladesh.
She made the remark on Tuesday while recalling Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on his 117th birthday.
“Bangladesh was born as a result of a struggle against intolerance and exclusion. Nazrul’s works have inspired generations to pursue freedom and equality,” Alison Blake said in a message.
“Today we remember Nazrul’s work and life and the value of tolerance, inclusion, justice, and diversity,” she added.
Nazrul gave powerful voice to a passionate belief that every person has the right to realise their full potential, free of any form of discrimination.
“One of Nazrul’s great works is the poem ‘Nari’ (women), condemning discrimination against women just because they were women; and in his other poems, Nazrul is urging an end to all forms of discrimination against people on whatever grounds,” she said highlighting Nazrul’s philosophy of an equal society.
Nazrul’s writing is part of Bangladesh’s rich culture and long tradition of harmony, inclusion, diversity and tolerance across all divides.
“This year’s Commonwealth theme is inclusion and the values promoted by Nazrul are at the heart of the Commonwealth,” Alison said.
“Bangladesh and Britain share a set of core Commonwealth values around tolerance, inclusivity and diversity. And we share a commitment to protect and uphold human rights,” she added.
Source: Prothom Alo
