Founding Vice-Chancellor and Emeritus Professor of Bangladesh Open University M Shamsher Ali said on Saturday that Professor Emajuddin never descended into loyalty to any party, considering democracy to be a lifeline of the nation and calling out injustice wherever it was.
Shamsher Ali made these remarks during a memorial lecture held to mark the fifth anniversary of Emajuddin Ahmed’s death as part of an event organised by the Emajuddin Ahmed Research Centre at the National Press Club in the capital on Saturday.
At that event, the keynote was presented by M Shamsher Ali, while Professor Abdul Latif Masum was in chair.
M Shamsher Ali said in his memorial lecture, “From the anti-Earshad movement to difficult times like 1/11 political crisis, Emajuddin played significant roles in the country’s democratic transition, As a public intellectual. He openly criticised the consequences of military rule,” adding that he acted as a guardian of the nation.
Patron of Emajuddin Ahmed Research Centre Abul Kasem Haiderr said, “Politicians have not changed. Earlier there was looting. Now there is extortion. Even the students who formed a party are going to be derailed. To overcome the situation, a knowledge-based society must be built. For this, lessons must be learned from Emajuddin’s state philosophy.”
Kishoreganj University Pro-VC Shafiqul Islam said, “Emajuddin Ahmed provided guidance in all political crises of the country. Former prime minister Khaleda Zia respected him a lot.”
Emajuddin Ahamed was a prominent Bangladeshi political scientist and educator who served as the 21st vice-chancellor of Dhaka University. He was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilianm award, in 1992.
Emajuddin’s granddaughters Bushra Mahjabin and Safkat Siddiqua and his son Zia Hasan also spoke at the memorial programme.