Secularism must for country's progress
AK Khandker tells discussion
Planning Minister AK Khandker yesterday said secularism must be maintained in Bangladesh for the country to progress.
“If we want Bangladesh to advance, people of different religions have to treat each other as brothers. Thus, secularism must be maintained,” he said.
The minister was addressing a discussion after screening of a documentary titled “Jihad Without Border” made by noted writer and war crimes researcher Shahriar Kabir in Women's Voluntary Association (WVA) auditorium in the capital.
“I believe Bangalees have spiritual power which will emerge on time and absolute secularism will be established in the country," said Khandker.
However, noted historian Prof Muntasir Mamun said the future of secularism in Bangladesh is dark as communal education is expanding.
On the ongoing war crimes trial, Mamun claimed the prosecution of International Crimes Tribunals is very weak.
Also laying blame on the government, he said, “The government itself also tolerates fundamentalism in the country."
Presiding over the discussion, cultural personality Kamal Lohani said the government is showing contradictory attitude because establishing secularism is not possible keeping Islam as the state religion.
Through his documentary, Shahriar Kabir disclosed different information on “history, politics, economy and character of militancy in Pakistan.”
Veteran left politician Ajoy Roy, Chairperson of Ain O Salish Kendra Hamida Hossain among others, spoke at the discussion.
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