Jahanara Imam's Death Anniversary Observed
Establish secular state: Nirmul body
Recipients of Jahanara Imam Memorial Award pose for photograph with the guests at a function in Women's Voluntary Association auditorium of the city yesterday. From left are Sanjib Drong, Prof Salahuddin Ahmed, Prof Anupam Sen, Prof Kabir Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak and Prof Ajoy Roy.Photo: STAR
Some eminent personalities yesterday demanded repealing the government's decision to keep Islam as state religion and the phrase "Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim" in the preamble to the constitution. These act as the major barriers towards establishing secularism, one of the fundamental principles of the constitution, they said. They also threatened to launch tough movement if their demands are not immediately met. They were speaking at a meeting organised by Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee in the city's Women's Voluntary Association auditorium marking Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam's 17th death anniversary. Presiding over the function, National Professor Kabir Chowdhury demanded imposing a ban on religion based politics and completely restoring the 1972 constitution. The state has no religion. Religion can be observed at individual and social levels. The main purpose of a state should be to ensure security and facility to the people, he said. They would gather public opinion in favour of their demands to establish a secular state, he added. Noted cultural personality Kamal Lohani said if there actually was a war for liberation in Bangladesh in 1971, then secularism must be ensured in the constitution. "We will sacrifice our blood again to establish secularism. We have formed a national committee to launch our movement," he added. The committee -- Sampradayikata-Jangibad Birodhi Mancha (a platform against communalism and militancy) -- Convener Prof Ajoy Roy said the government seems to be moving toward ideologies followed by Pakistan by destroying secularism. Awami League advisory committee member Abdur Razzak, also member of parliamentary special committee to amend constitution, said, "It would be best if we could have restored the 1972 constitution.” The Nirmul Committee Executive President Shahriar Kabir and its Law Affairs Secretary Barrister Turin Afroz also spoke at the programme. At the function, noted historian Prof Salahuddin Ahmed and Bangladesh Adivasi Forum received Jahanara Imam Memorial Award for 2010 and social scientist Prof Anupam Sen and Sampradayikata-Jangibad Birodhi Mancha for 2011. The award came as recognition of their contribution against fundamentalism and communalism.
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