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hope future elections will be more visibly free than many claim they have been. There is room for change. I am worried about Bangladesh but I am not without hope,” he said.

Sen, who spent much of his childhood in Dhaka and began his formal education at St Gregory’s School there, said the situation in Bangladesh affects me deeply because I have a strong Bengali sense of identity,” Sen said.

He said he was concerned about how the country would navigate the challenges.

“I have spent a lot of time in Dhaka and began my school education there. Aside from Dhaka, I often visited my ancestral home in Manikganj. On my maternal side, I regularly visited Bikrampur, particularly Sonarang. These places have deep personal significance for me. Like many others, I am worried about how Bangladesh will overcome its current challenges,” he said.

On Bangladesh’s progress since its independence, Sen highlighted the country’s improvements in per capita income, at one point surpassing India, along with a sharp reduction in birth rates and higher life expectancy compared to India.

“Bangladesh has undergone major economic and social transformations, particularly in advancing women’s rights, with contributions from both the government and non-governmental organisations like BRAC and Grameen Bank,” he said.

Sen also noted that newspapers in Bangladesh remained “relatively free”, with many flourishing despite taking strong anti-government positions.

He praised the Bangladeshi Army for its restraint in not attempting to establish military rule, as has happened in many other countries.

Sen condemned attacks on Hindu minorities and the vandalisation of temples, emphasising that it was the responsibility of both the government and the public to prevent such violence.

“This is an important issue because Bangladesh has historically taken pride in its treatment of minorities and its efforts to keep communal forces like Jamaat in check. Unfortunately, there have also been attacks on mosques in India. These incidents, whether in Bangladesh or India, must stop,” he asserted.

“There is nothing easier than fuelling communalism by selectively amplifying certain incidents. This is how the Hindu-Muslim riots of the 1940s escalated, leading to bloodshed. We must reflect on our past and consider our future in that light. Selective publicity can be extremely dangerous,” Sen said.