Religious minorities slam retaining Islam as state religion

Rana Dasgupta,General Secretary of Hindu Boudhha Christian Oikya Parishad,a key organisation of religious minorities in Bangladesh,said the entire nation wanted the restoration of the spirit of secularism.

“We are deeply disappointed…this has violated our fundamental rights and that is why we are rejecting the amendment,” Dasgupta told PTI.

The Parishad claimed it deprived the country’s nearly 2.5 crore religious and ethnic minorities of their rights.

Hinduism is the second largest religious affiliation in Bangladesh. There are over 10 lakhs Hindus in the country,according to the 2001 census.

Dasgupta said the Parishad,headed by former army general CR Datta,has called a nationwide day-long hunger strike on Friday.

The organisation would also stage a black flag protest in front of the National Press Club in the heart of the capital tomorrow,Dasgupta said.

“We fear the development has pushed us to a situation where the followers of different religious faiths will abstain from casting their votes in next elections or wage a campaign demanding separate election in reserve seats,¿ he said.

Bangladesh’s 1972 constitution contained four state principles,including secularism that was scrapped under the government of military ruler Ziaur Rahman.

Former military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad,currently the chief of Jatiya Party which is aligned with the Awami League-led ruling coalition,declared Islam the state religion in 1988 by amending the constitution.