Former student leader Shahabuddin Laltu has said that Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus stands out—almost awkwardly so—for his civility in a political culture lacking in it.
In a recent Facebook post, Laltu remarked, “Our country’s politics, long trapped in dynastic practices, has failed to see the light of civility for decades. Naturally, in a crowd of hundreds of the uncivil, a civil figure like Yunus feels quite out of place—and that is exactly how it seems.”
Referring to a recent statement by Professor Yunus, Laltu noted its composed and polite tone. “This is what we call an academic style,” he said. For example, instead of expressing anger over political behaviour, Yunus had said, “We are deeply grateful for your sincere support and believe that with just a bit more, we can conquer the world together.”
Laltu contrasted this with the tone used by some political leaders. “I heard one say, ‘We are not at all satisfied with the pace of reform over the past few months, and we don’t even know if we’ll meet again.’ That’s not how civil discourse works anymore. Even in dissatisfaction, civil people say, ‘We are very pleased, and even a little more progress would be most welcome.’ The implication is clear to all.”
He further criticised the outdated communication style of Bangladesh’s older generation of leaders. Drawing an analogy, Laltu said, “In the past, if a shopkeeper offered a product, the customer might bluntly say, ‘Is this even worth buying?’ Today’s customers begin by saying, ‘Oh, your product is lovely! Surely you have even better ones?’ And the seller understands that the buyer expects more. That’s the language of modern, civil engagement.”
Highlighting the exposure of many politicians’ children to Western education, Laltu argued that they are better equipped to bring civility into politics. “Almost all of our leaders’ children study or have studied in the West. Naturally, they’ve absorbed the norms of those societies. Western professors are among the most civil people on Earth. Students who spend months under their guidance don’t really have room to be uncivil.”
He concluded by saying that there is no way to contribute meaningfully to the country while speaking in an uncivil manner. “The ability to speak well is the most powerful tool to present oneself as civil. Framing matters—saying a glass is half full sounds much more pleasant, more civilized, than saying it’s half empty.”
“In a political culture long devoid of civility, it’s no wonder Professor Yunus feels so out of place. And that is exactly how it looks.”
(Disclaimer: This report was translated from Bangla to English using ChatGPT.
Original Link: priyodeshnews.com/professor-yunus-shahabuddin-laltu)
