Abdullah Abu Sayeed

Once your values are gone, it is hard to get them back. It is possible to rebuild if you lose infrastructure -- as Japan and Germany did after World War II -- but if you lose your sense of collective morality, it takes a lot longer to stand back up again.

Ahmed Rafiq

Free speech is very crucial to tackling any crisis. That the state must allow it is a matter of its "common sense". Ultimately, it's the government that benefits if truth is allowed to be told in a society.

Badruddin Umar 

It is very disappointing that there is no conducive environment for free thinking in Bangladesh. The situation is getting worse day by day. People's freedom of thought and expression is completely under threat … Resistance is necessary to get relief from such a situation. But this is not happening yet … Hopefully, people will stand against it in the near future.

Hameeda Hossain

We can see from Bangladesh's struggle for independence how important it was to have freedom of thought, freedom of expression and for people to discuss their various diverse views and opinions. The freedom to think, write, discuss with everybody is a very important element in making society more democratic.

Jatin Sarker

Had thought not been free, doing anything would not be possible for humans. Humans are the only animal who can think and express themselves in language. It is thought that creates relations between people. Debate is not possible without free thinking.
 

Kamal Hossain  

Controlling a society becomes possible when freedom of thinking does not exist. Different kinds of views, opinions and counter-opinions can be expressed in an independent society, through which it makes progress.
 

Mostofa Monwar

Free thought is ultimately beneficial to the people. Whoever believes in free thought can never think only for their own sake. Free thinking, probably, is the best necessity. When people lose the power to think, their free thought gradually turns into parroting. 

Noorjahan Bose

In an independent country, freedom of thinking is important to build a creative nation. I don't want to live by an ideology or in a country where I cannot speak, write and express my thoughts freely. If necessary. I will live in a hut or go hungry but I must have the right to express my free thought. I believe I'm ready to sacrifice my life for free thinking.

Rafiqun Nabi

Common people who do not have any academic knowledge on political science can think about politics. Their free thinking stems from their experiences. We have not yet achieved everything after the Liberation War … For that we'll have to think freely.

Rehman Sobhan

Independence of thinking is only meaningful if you have got an independent medium of expression. Those who wish to express themselves freely and independently through an independent media found that their voices were suppressed because the media itself faces dangers of suppression. 

Serajul Islam Choudhury

Freedom of expression is closely connected with the evolution of thinking and moves ahead in a dialectic manner. Dissent is essential. Democratic culture grows when newspapers have the freedom to express opinions and publish news independently. 

Sharifa Khatun

A citizen of an independent country has the full right to express opinion. Citizens play their due role when they enjoy their rights. Therefore, a country has to give its citizens this right. Freedom of expression, opinion, conscience and media are crucial. Without these there will be no creativity. Without creativity, this country will not progress.