Govt’s disconnect from people led to 1974 famine: Adviser

Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir has said the government’s failure to reflect people’s aspirations and its reliance on repression contributed to the 1974 famine.

He made the remarks at the fifth session of the “Democratic Journey Seminar Series”, organised by the July Uprising Memorial Museum in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, on Sunday (November 8). The seminar focused on the 1974 famine and the economic crisis after independence.

Titumir said the government in power from 1972 to 1975 had little connection with the people and failed to uphold key principles of state governance. He said state repression and the formation of paramilitary forces were used to maintain power.

Citing rice prices, he said a tonne of rice cost US$147 in the global market in 1972, while the price in Bangladesh stood at US$316, reflecting failures in market regulation and accountability.

Comparing the 1972–75 period with Sheikh Hasina’s 2009–24 rule, Titumir alleged that both administrations used repression against political opponents to remain in power.

Writer and researcher Asif Iqbal claimed that around 1.5 million people died during the post-independence economic crisis, describing it as an economic catastrophe. Economist Dr Nahian Bin Khaled identified unequal access to food, hoarding and failures in market control as major factors behind the famine.

July Uprising Memorial Museum Director General Ehsan Mahmud also blamed political mismanagement, nepotism and weak market controls for the disaster.

-AH