Certain intellectuals backed Indian influence in BD during AL govt

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has claimed that a section of the country's intellectuals, writers, and media professionals played a role in fostering India's dominance in Bangladesh during the previous Awami League (AL) government.
He said misuse of political power and blind loyalty to a foreign state had caused 'intellectual distortion' over the last 15 years.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled "Transforming the Future of Education in Bangladesh: A Strategic Roadmap", organised by pro-BNP teachers' group, Sada Dal at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building at Dhaka University (DU) on Monday.
The BNP leader said for many years, a section of intellectuals worked to establish an 'India-dependent intellectual influence', which undermined independent thinking and critical debate in the country. Those who once bore the responsibility to speak against state injustice, public suffering, or human rights violations instead aligned with pro-India political narratives and remained silent, he said.
Comparing the current intellectual situation to the British era, he said just as the British rulers manipulated the educated class to prolong their power, certain intellectuals and media fugures in recent years also restricted intellectual activities to uphold state hegemony, obstructing democratic and creative growth.
Speaking about the future of education, he said the new generation must be equipped for the modern era. He emphasised the importance of developing human resources in fields like artificial intelligence, robotics, data science, and biotechnology.
"Universities should not only prepare students for jobs but also serve as hubs of research and innovation," he added.
Referring to the July Charter and the National Consensus Commission, he said attempts had been made to create division under the guise of consensus. However, he expressed gratitude to the authorities to ensure proper electoral process. "National sovereignty cannot be restricted by any order. The highest symbol of sovereignty is Parliament, where people elect their representatives through voting," he said.
Speaking as the chair, Sada Dal convener Prof. Morshed Hasan Khan said the education system had suffered significant damage during the Awami League period, forcing teachers, students, and guardians to take to the streets for their rights. He expressed disappointment that although the interim government formed 11 reform commissions, none had been established for education.
Prof Shah Shamim Ahmed of DU's Institute of Education and Research presented the keynote paper. He highlighted that despite achievements such as increased enrolment, progress in women's education, and the distribution of free textbook, significant challenges persist, including the quality of education, infrastructure gaps, teacher shortages, weak administration, and maintaining higher education standards.
He stressed that, in the face of rapidly changing technology, evolving labour markets, and global competition, a strategic transformation of the education system is essential.

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