Prof. Haque rightly condemns a shameful incident reported to have taken place in India. But, why does he draw a link between Prof. Sen and the incident, just because the incident took place in India? I am confused as to the specific point or allegation being made. Has Prof. Sen ever denied that there is intolerance in India, or has he ever supported crimes such as those reported? Prof. Haque then, by similarity, has to take responsibility for every bad incident in Bangladesh, or is he rather implying that no condemnable events take place in his own country?

On the subject of intolerance, perhaps Prof. Haque may wish to ask himself why, Prof. Sen, whose ancestral home was in Wari (Dhaka), and his family felt compelled to leave the land of their forefathers and seek refuge in another?

I find the letter on Professor Amartya Sen unworthy and out of context. Prof. Sen is much above the narrow boundaries of religion and nationality. He finds time to visit the country of his ancestral home quite often and shares his thoughts. He donated part of his Nobel Prize money to a trust fund in Bangladesh.

It is not desirable to compare any evil event here with similar events in India to feel good that it happens in India too.

It is time we rise above and look for good examples.

Munim Chowdhury, On e-mail