National University (NU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Md Moshiur Rahman on Saturday said one can not be Bengali without proximity to Shahid Minar and Martyrs' Memorial.

He said, “To understand the roots of Bangladesh, one must understand Bangabandhu and the liberation war. Bangabandhu's ideals should be cherished. Dr Muhammad Yunus can be a Nobel laureate but his silence on the Rohingya crisis, his lack of closeness to the martyrs’memorial and Shaheed Minar, not taking a firm stand for the Liberation War, Bangladesh and Bangabandhu, give us pain. On the contrary, under his leadership, the activities of labor exploitation of marginalized people took place.”

The VC made the statements while delivering speech of the chief negotiator at the tri-annual conference of the 7th National Council organised by the Bangabandhu Sanskritik Parishad at Segunbagicha in the capital on Saturday.

Dr Moshiur Rahman said, “Bangabandhu wanted to build a new society through the cooperative system by liberating the farmers, workers and hardworking people. He said, I will destroy the existing social system and build a new society. The United States did not like that new society. Because along his path, a new economic, social and political awakening would have been created not only in South Asia, but also in the world. So when someone says Bangladesh could have been Malaysia, Singapore or America. I do not agree with them. Bangladesh never wanted it to be. Bangladesh wants to be Bangladesh. In that Bangladesh, the father of the nation was killed in a joint conspiracy of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United States and their allies.”

He said, 'I see the same picture today in 160 statements. Who do you stand for? Dr. Yunus? whose economic profit and interest trade that favors capitalism. That's why you're on his side. And who are you against? Sheikh Hasina? Who created the social safety net for the low-income people. Sheikh Hasina's social security model and Dr Yunus' profit model is not the same. The social security model ensures the security of every human being. And through Grameen Bank's profits, Grameen Bank and Dr Yunus himself becomes the beneficiary. That is why you will be in favor of capitalism, that is obvious.

Jatiya Sangsad Deputy Speaker Advocate Shamsul Hoque Tuku was the chief guest at the conference. President of the Bangabandhu Sanskritik Parishad Ahsan Ullah Moni presided over the conference.