This book traces the life journey of a human-centred development thinker and practitioner and a leading figure in climate policy. A freedom fighter who has lived and worked in Bangladesh ever since Bangladesh's liberation, he has remained inspired and energised by a steadfast commitment to nation-building grounded in the ideals of the War of Liberation. These ideals include the establishment of an equitable society in which all citizens enjoy full human rights and live with dignity. His work has also been guided by adherence to the four fundamental principles of state policy enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh: Bangalee nationalism, non- communalism, socialism, and democracy.
The book reflects on his early life and education, his choice of career, and his participation in Bangladesh’s War of Liberation, before turning to his professional and intellectual pursuits. While his primary focus has been Bangladesh, approached from within the country—he has also played significant roles in international arenas from his Bangladesh base. Over the decades, he has been instrumental in building and leading institutions, working tirelessly within their frameworks and beyond, wherever opportunities arose, to advance human capability development through health, education, and skills training; poverty alleviation; inclusive economic growth; and sustainable development. The institutions and networks established under his leadership and the other ones in which he also played leadership roles, and the responsibilities he carried in each, are described in fair detail.
The last chapter argues that, over the course of Bangladesh’s 54-year journey as an independent and sovereign state up to the time of this book’s completion, the country has experienced not nation-building but, rather, processes of nation-dividing—a contention that the book has sought to explain and critically examine.
