Religion and politics
I am writing with reference to Front Page News: "Religion-based parties face ban," (Jan. 5).
Politics is about power and religion is about spiritual salvation and when both get together, they get lost to their original purposes. To preserve the spiritual aspect of religion, it must be separated from politics. Countries like Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan are being embroiled in a never-ending bloodletting because various religious groups are slaughtering each other in the name of Islam. As such, Bangladesh should declare itself a secular nation with a Muslim majority just as India is a secular nation with a Hindu majority.
Although far from perfect, as a secular nation, India has prospered and India's many religious groups have learned to live together under a secular government. If India called itself a Hindu nation, it would have been impossible to keep its Muslim and Sikh minorities loyal to India and India would have disintegrated as a nation. Bangladesh has also a sizeable Hindu minority and only a secular constitution can guarantee their interests.
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