Constitutional amendment, why?
Tucked away on Page 5 of DS 27 May 2011 is a news item that has disturbed me immensely. Sector Commanders Forum (SCF) and some political parties have demanded from the Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment that 1) Islam as state religion is scrapped, 2) Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim dropped as 3) the two-nation theory had been rejected. My questions were not the first two inserted more than 30 years ago, to fulfill the original deficiencies and make our constitution consistent with the aspirations of 85% of Bangladeshis?
Does Islam, the most secular of all religions, not guarantee the rights of minorities? Is not rejection of the two-nation theory, striking at the raison-d'etre and the very roots of Bangladesh's sovereignty? After acceptance, will the next demand be the merger of our blood-soaked country back with the pre-1947 mother, as we have a common language and culture with her contiguous part?
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments