Covid highlights need for equitable society: Experts

Capitalism has created discrimination among people and turned people into consumer goods, say eminent citizens and social thinkers.

The Covid-19 has given the existing social system a jerk and brought to the fore the importance of establishing a discrimination free society, they observe, adding, "We have to start a new journey taking lessons from this."

The experts said this while discussing a book entitled "Society-Economy-State on the Big Screen: In Search of a Better Bangladesh from the Great Disaster of Virus" written by Abul Barkat.

They were speaking at a webinar styled "In search of a decent society" organised Saturday by the Bangladesh Arthonoti Samity, as part of a 13-session series of discussion on the book. Professor Abul Barkat moderated the programme.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Barrister M Amir-ul Islam, fiction writer Hasan Azizul Haque, Emeritus Professor of Brac University's Economics and Social Sciences ATM Nurul Amin, Information Technology Specialist Mizanur Rahman and Dhaka University law teacher Professor Mizanur Rahman took part in the discussion. .

Professor Barkat said, "Our goal is to play a knowledge-based supportive role in building a decent society, a decent culture, a decent way of life, a decent way of life, a decent economy and a decent state. The meeting was organized by the Bangladesh Economic Association for that purpose. "

Barrister Amirul Islam said Abul Barkat in this book has portrayed the economic situation in Bangladesh in the lockdown situation. Covid or other disasters greatly affect the marginalised sector of some societies in Bangladesh.

Professor Barkat later mentions in his book the importance of human beings, inequality, social status, humanity and the establishment of social justice, he added.

Criticising the book Hasan Azizur Haque said, "We have to look at the economy through the eyes of the country and not on the big screen."

"Readers will not accept any statement if they do not understand the country and time. Barkat has beautifully presented many things in his book," he added.

Economist ATM Nurul Amin said, "Barkat mentions the need for socialism. But it would be good to analyse the reasons why Soviet socialism failed. It would also be good to discuss socialism in China and Vietnam."

Information technologist Mizanur Rahman said Abul Barkat has brought up social inequality in his book. A small part of the society controls the huge population economically, he added.

Former chairman of the Human Rights Commission Mizanur Rahman said capitalist society has turned people into consumer goods. In his book, Barkat discusses the importance of the international class struggle for emancipation.