The passing of National Professor Dr. Anisuzzaman on 14 May 2020 is an enormous loss of an engaged public intellectual and an eminent scholar. He was a Trustee of the Bengal Foundation and Chair of the Board of Editors of Kali O Kalam, an acclaimed Bengali literary journal. He was also a founding Trustee of the Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation, a premier institution of intellectual excellence.

Dr. Anisuzzaman has always been an inspiration to us, and he will forever be remembered for his moral leadership, and as a voice for democracy and social justice. His research and scholarship, intellectual rigour, and his literary and academic engagements, had made him a revered figure in the region.

Bengal Foundation gas organised an online three-part memorial meet celebrating the many facets of Dr. Anisuzzaman’s teachings, his interests and accomplishments. The first session explored his scholarly research and role as an educator (watch it  here:  https://tinyurl.com/ycb6mu69).

The second session focuses on Dr. Anisuzzaman’s political conscience and involvement with rights movements, featured in this video.

Session 2: Political conscience and involvement with rights movements

Speakers:

• Abul Momen, Poet and Essayist
• Mofidul Hoque, Publisher, Essayist and Founder Trustee, Liberation War Museum
• Advocate Sultana Kamal, Rights Activist and Former Advisor to Caretaker government
• Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher, The Daily Star
• Rounaq Jahan, Political Scientist and Author
• M. Syeduzzaman, Author and Former Minister for Finance
• Rehman Sobhan, Thinker, Economist, Chair of CPD
• Abul Khair, Chair, Bengal Foundation

Presenter: Ms. Luva Nahid Choudhury, Director-General, Bengal Foundation

The third and final session will examine Dr. Anisuzzaman’s contribution to the arts and literature, and will be featured in upcoming videos.