In the midst of communal violence in Bangladesh, there are indications of the country returning to the secular fold. At least political circles are interpreting thus from the recent statement of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when she said, “People of all religions, castes and communities will live together in Bangladesh. Whoever has whatever religion, he will follow it. That is the essence of a secular state.”
The issue of Bangladesh’s return to secularism has also come to the fore in the clear comments of Minister of State for Information Murad Hasan. He said a bill would soon be introduced in Parliament to return to the 1972 secular Constitution. The ruling party of Bangladesh, the Awami League, is also confident of passing the bill unanimously.
In 1972, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independent Bangladesh a “secular people’s republic”. However, by amending the Constitution in 1986 and 1990, Islam became the national religion of Bangladesh. Is Bangladesh on the way to amend the Constitution now? The Sheikh Hasina government wants to change the national character and become “secular”. The ruling party has also been active in passing the bill unanimously in the Parliament.
During Durga Puja in Bangladesh, communal violence took place in some places. In order to boost the morale of the minority community, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Bangladesh is a country of non-communal consciousness. People of all religions, castes and communities will live together in Bangladesh. They will follow their religions.” She reminded every Bangladeshi, “Religion belongs to the individual, festivals belong to everyone. Religion belongs to everyone, the state belongs to everyone.” In this context, she also mentioned Bangabandhu. Mujibur Rahman had said, “There is no place for communalism in the soil of Bangladesh. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians…those who live in this country, are all citizens of this country.”
Addressing the Hindu citizens of Bangladesh, PM Sheikh Hasina said, “Why do you always think of yourself as a minority? Each of you is a citizen of this country. You were born on this earth. Those who are born in this land are the children of this land. You all live in your own right.”