State religion will be dropped when the time comes: Awami League leader

[SANITY]

The state religion, which was included in the Constitution contravening the main spirit of the independence, will be discarded when the time comes, a policymaker of ruling Awami League has said.

"Islam has been kept as the state religion for strategic reasons," the party's Presidium Member and former minister Abdur Razzaq told a roundtable in Dhaka on Saturday.

"I have said it abroad and now I am saying it again that Islam will be dropped (as state religion) from Bangladesh's Constitution when the time comes," the former food minister said.

The ruling party leader made the statement while speaking about Bangladesh's secular tradition at the roundtable organised by SAARC Cultural Society at the national Press Club.

Politicians and journalists from India also took part in the discussion titled 'Strong Unity of Masses of Bangladesh and India to Prevent Terrorism', held with the recent attacks on Hindus in Brahmanbarhia in the backdrop.

Indian participants included Congress leader Preetam Ghosh, social worker Ajoy Kumar Dutta and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shiladitya Dev.

Highlighting secularism Razzaq said: "The force of secularism is in the people of Bangladesh. There is nothing called 'minority' in our country."

Secularism was included in the Constitution as one of the four basic principles when it was written in 1972 as people from all religions joined the struggle for independence and snatched it from Pakistan.

After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, Bangladesh's course of direction was reversed, and Ziaur Rahman, capturing the power, replaced 'secularism' with 'Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah'.

Another military dictator, HM Ershad, later included Islam as the state religion in the Constitution.

Political analysts see that move of Ershad, whose lifestyle does not reflect Islam, as only a way to achieve his political interest.

After Ershad's ouster, the demand to drop Islam as state religion from the Constitution was raised several times, but even Awami League, the party that led the struggle for independence, has not made the change.

Through the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 2011, the four basic principles of the 1972 Constitution - nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism - were restored, but Islam remained the state religion.

The Awami League leader's comment came at a time when there are protests on the street against the attacks on Hindus and tribal Santal minorities in different parts of the country.

http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016...opped-when-the-time-comes-awami-league-leader

 

[Mikesingh]

Religion in education and politics is regressive and nurtures a violent society. The sooner it is dropped, the better.

 

[republic_roi97]

But will, they stop killing and persecuting the hindus ? I hope that they do.

 

[Voldemort]

Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina is safer than West Bengal.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

The state religion, which was included in the Constitution contravening the main spirit of the independence, will be discarded when the time comes, a policymaker of ruling Awami League has said.

"Islam has been kept as the state religion for strategic reasons," the party's Presidium Member and former minister Abdur Razzaq told a roundtable in Dhaka on Saturday.

"I have said it abroad and now I am saying it again that Islam will be dropped (as state religion) from Bangladesh's Constitution when the time comes," the former food minister said.

The ruling party leader made the statement while speaking about Bangladesh's secular tradition at the roundtable organised by SAARC Cultural Society at the national Press Club.

Politicians and journalists from India also took part in the discussion titled 'Strong Unity of Masses of Bangladesh and India to Prevent Terrorism', held with the recent attacks on Hindus in Brahmanbarhia in the backdrop.

Indian participants included Congress leader Preetam Ghosh, social worker Ajoy Kumar Dutta and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shiladitya Dev.

Highlighting secularism Razzaq said: "The force of secularism is in the people of Bangladesh. There is nothing called 'minority' in our country."

Secularism was included in the Constitution as one of the four basic principles when it was written in 1972 as people from all religions joined the struggle for independence and snatched it from Pakistan.

After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, Bangladesh's course of direction was reversed, and Ziaur Rahman, capturing the power, replaced 'secularism' with 'Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah'.

Another military dictator, HM Ershad, later included Islam as the state religion in the Constitution.

Political analysts see that move of Ershad, whose lifestyle does not reflect Islam, as only a way to achieve his political interest.

After Ershad's ouster, the demand to drop Islam as state religion from the Constitution was raised several times, but even Awami League, the party that led the struggle for independence, has not made the change.

Through the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 2011, the four basic principles of the 1972 Constitution - nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism - were restored, but Islam remained the state religion.

The Awami League leader's comment came at a time when there are protests on the street against the attacks on Hindus and tribal Santal minorities in different parts of the country.

http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016...opped-when-the-time-comes-awami-league-leader

Secular BD, if not practical, at least constitutional. We will see practical later because BD is surrounded by two very generous and friendly societies. @Navnit Kundu @aditya10r

:biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

 

[Butter Chicken]

Lol,temples are being destroyed daily,Hindus are being chopped like vegetables,and talking about being "secular".

Remember that the maximum violence during partition was on the eastern border

 

[aditya10r]

Secular BD, if not practical, at least constitutional. We will see practical later because BD is surrounded by two very generous and friendly societies. @Navnit Kundu @aditya10r

:biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

Indira was an idiot
She could have solved our chickens neck problem if we had kept important strategic locations after the victory

Sweer victory well wasted

And ultimately it's a Muslim country

They will no matter what oppress non muslims and will keep fighting with themselves.

They are not focusing on economic development.
There will be a bigger illegal immigration from there in next 5-10 years and sickulars will try to cause problems.

 

[rockey 71]

Never ever forget BD is an overwhelmingly Muslim nation. Though not extremist, Bengalis are staunch in their belief. Any attempt to scrap Islam as the state language will fail, and the fall out may cause extremism to grow. This Razzak guy like her party are hated elements in BD, and can remain installed in power only because of Indian blind support.

 

[bose]

When Bangladesh was born in 1971 there was no provision for Islam as state religion, rather it done by anti India President Zia ur Rahman... To stop atrocities against Hindus and control the Jihadi elements Bangladesh state have to be declared a secular... It is one of the steps with equal treatment of Hindus...

 

[Indx TechStyle]

and can remain installed in power only because of Indian blind support.

Blind support? They are enough to serve our interests, so we're at least not blind in our favour. Blind is the country which wastes it's resources to just appease people of other country.

Never ever forget BD is an overwhelmingly Muslim nation.

And don't forget that Pakistan and BD are "ex Indian" states. Due to instability and expanding wahabism, they got apart from us and further decomposed into two different countries.

Though not extremist,

Think over it again.

Bengalis are staunch in their belief.

AFAIK, Bengalis form a significant share of atheists in India. [Because you said "Bengalis", not Bangladeshis, you are a different nation now, be happy with new name]. So, no for Bengalis, can't say about Bangladeshis. Importance of Religion report gives around 5% Bangladeshis to be non religious, 23% for India, in 2015.

Any attempt to scrap Islam as the state language will fail, and the fall out may cause extremism to grow.

As if it contributed anything to challenge extremism. Extremism won't grow but extremists like you'll be excited. But they won't be able to survive in long term after that.