Hasina wants Islam as Bangladesh state religion

[akash57]

Hasina wants Islam as Bangladesh state religion

Dhaka, April 27 (IANS) Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League would like to retain Islam as the state religion but wants all religions to enjoy equal rights, Prime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said.

In a reversal of a policy laid down by her late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh to freedom, Hasina said she favoured retaining ‘Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim’ above the preamble of the constitution.

The 1972 constitution had secularism as one of its pillars. This was removed after Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in 1975. Bangladesh is now an Islamic republic, with 90 percent of its people being Muslims.

Hindus constitute about nine percent and indigenous tribals follow Buddhism. There is a sprinkling of Christians.

Hasina told the media after a two-hour meeting with the parliamentary committee that her party ‘is not against having Islam as state religion’.

She suggested that the constitution should have ‘provision for ensuring equal rights to people of other religions’, The Daily Star reported Wednesday.

Hasina also said her party was against banning religion-based political parties but it wanted some restrictions on them.

This is the first time a prime minister appeared before a parliamentary committee that is reviewing the constitution in the light of a Supreme Court verdict last year that annulled several amendments brought about during 1975-90 when Bangladesh was a military-ruled nation.

Jatiya Party, a major component of the Hasina-led ruling alliance, wanted the state religion to be retained.

But the Left leaning Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Ganotanri Party and National Awami Party strongly opposed the Jatiya Party proposal.

Hasina wants Islam as Bangladesh state religion

---------- Post added at 05:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:39 PM ----------

Hasina to meet panel on Islamic references in Constitution

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will on Wednesday appear before a parliamentary committee examining whether to retain or remove Islamic religious references in the country's constitution. Political parties are so far divided on the issue. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has declined to participate, saying the entire debate was "motivated". Its chief and former prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, refused to appear before the committee. The panel is reviewing the constitution in the light of a Supreme Court verdict in 2010 that annulled several amendments brought about during 1975-90 when Bangladesh was a military-led nation. The constitution was originally drafted in 1972 with ‘secularism’ as one of its basic pillars. A country with 90 per cent plus Muslim population, Bangladesh was declared an Islamic Republic with 'secularism' being replaced by references to Allah. Hasina, who is also chief of the ruling Awami League, "is likely to clarify her party's stance on some crucial issues including state religion and caretaker government system", The Daily Star said on Wednesday. Jatiya Party, a major component of the Hasina-led ruling alliance, has proposed retaining Islam as state religion, keeping the phrase "Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim" above the preamble of the constitution and imposing no ban on religion-based political parties. The party is headed by H.M. Ershad, the longest-serving military ruler and head of the state, during whose tenure many Islamiic symbols and motifs were added to Bangladesh's polity. However, the left-leaning Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Ganotanri Party and National Awami Party have strongly opposed the Jatiya Party proposals. Their stance on the issues reflected the views of eminent jurists who joined the talks with the special committee on Sunday. The jurists also opposed the existing provision allowing former chief justices to head caretaker governments. In an editorial on Wednesday, The Daily Star urged Zia to join the talks to determine "how serious" the Prime Minister is about changes in the Constitution.

Hasina to meet panel on Islamic references in Constitution | Deccan Chronicle

 

[eastwatch]

Past govt to hold polls if CG fails

Thursday, April 28, 2011
Front PagePast govt to hold polls if CG fails
AL proposes reviving immediate past political govt if elections not held within 90-day tenure of caretaker govt
Shakhawat Liton

The immediate past elected government will automatically revive if a caretaker government fails to hold a general election within 90 days of a parliament's dissolution, proposed ruling Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina yesterday.

In that case, the parliamentary poll will be held as soon as possible under that political party-led government, Hasina, also the premier, elaborated on the proposition during talks with the parliamentary special committee on constitutional amendment.

She also suggested that the special committee drafts proposals for limiting the tenure of caretaker governments.

"We made the proposals to keep pressure on caretaker governments, so they cannot delay in holding parliamentary polls," Hasina said citing the last caretaker government's around two years of rule.

Hasina, who led a 12-member party delegation to the talks, also placed some other proposals, on behalf of ruling AL, for the special committee's consideration.

After the talks on constitutional amendment in Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, she disclosed the proposals at a media briefing in Gonobhaban, the official residence of the premier.

Citing the anxiety of eminent jurists about the provision of appointing former chief justices as the chiefs of caretaker governments, Hasina proposed some alternatives.

Participating in the talks with the special committee on Sunday, eminent jurists proposed scrapping of the current provision which allows former chief justices to lead caretaker governments, because according to them, the current provision contributed to making the judiciary controversial by hampering its independence.

About formation of caretaker governments, one of Hasina's proposals is to introduce a system of forming a 10-member advisory council to an interim government -- five from the treasury bench and five from the opposition bench of the parliament.

And those 10 advisers will select a chief adviser based on a consensus among themselves, the proposal said.

Another proposal said every time a caretaker government is formed, it will be formed on the basis of discussions among ruling and opposition parties in the parliament.

In yet another proposal the premier said how many advisers will come from which party might depend on how many seats a party has in the parliament.

"There could be other proposals in this regard. I placed these proposals to keep the judiciary out of controversy as the eminent jurists desired," the AL chief said.

She however expressed skepticism about her own proposal for forming caretaker governments based on consensus, as the main opposition BNP neither nominated its MP to work in the special committee nor did it joined the talks with the committee.

Hasina however said there will be no need for caretaker governments if the Election Commission is strengthened enough to hold polls in a free and fair manner.

On limiting the president's unilateral sweeping authority to declare a state of emergency during a caretaker regime, the AL chief said her party is in favour of restricting the presidential power.

When an elected government is in power, the president acts on advice of the prime minister, and requires a counter signature of the premier to declare a state of emergency.

"The special committee will discuss more about how to restrict the president's unilateral authority to declare a state of emergency during a caretaker government," Hasina said.

AL's other proposals include insertion of a clause against extra-constitutional takeover of state power, restoration of the parliament's authority to remove constitutional officers, maintaining Islam's status as the state religion, keeping the phrase BISMILLAH-AR-RAHMAN-AR-RAHIM above of the preamble of the constitution, allowing religion based political parties, keeping article 70 unchanged, and increasing reserved seats for women in the parliament to 50 from 45.

In defence of maintaining Islam's status as the state religion in the constitution, Hasina explained the ground reality. But she said she personally believes that religions are for people, not for the state.

The AL chief, however, questioned the rationale behind making Islam the state religion through the eighth amendment by the HM Ershad-led government in 1988.

"There was no rationale and need for giving Islam the status of state religion. The parliament back then, which was formed through an election without participation of voters, passed the constitution's eighth amendment act," Hasina said.

She said it is not possible to scrap Islam's status as state religion now because people's emotions are attached to religions, and it has been a long time since the status was given to Islam.

Therefore, Islam's status as the state religion will be maintained in the constitution, Hasina said adding, "Other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity will enjoy equal rights."

When her attention was drawn to political parties based on religion, which are facing a ban after the cancellation of the constitution's fifth amendment, the prime minister said her party is in favour of allowing them to continue with their politics considering the prevailing situation.

She said religion based politics was banned by the constitution after the country's independence. But the situation drastically changed after the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the toppling of his government on August 15, 1975.

During the first martial law regime, which began after the bloody changeover, military ruler Ziaur Rahman allowed religion based politics, amending the constitution through martial law proclamations. He also rehabilitated war criminals who had left the country after the independence, Hasina said.

The AL president said she personally believes none should be allowed to use religion for political or personal gain, and it should be kept out of controversy.

AL proposed bringing changes to the proviso of Article-38 of the constitution in light of the Representation of the People's Order (RPO), so that religion based political parties do not face a ban.

"The special committee will further examine the matter to find what to do in this regard," Hasina said.

About the proposals for stopping extra-constitutional takeover of state power and the process of validating illegal power grabs, Hasina said her party made the proposals to consolidate people's power.

She cited previous practices of military rulers who validated their illegal power grabs by amending the constitution.

On the issue of restoring the parliament's authority to remove constitutional officials on grounds of misconduct and incompetence, AL supported the special committee's move to restore the House's authority.

Hasina said the parliament has the authority to impeach the president, so what would be wrong if it gets the authority to remove others including judges of the Supreme Court and other constitutional officers on grounds of misconduct and incompetence.

"However, we are not rigid about it. But we think it will be better if the parliament has that authority," she added.

AL is against bringing any change to Article-70 of the constitution that imposes some restrictions on MPs, preventing them from going against any decision of their parties in the parliament.

"Article-70 will remain unchanged, otherwise the government will not have stability. Therefore, we do not want any amendment to this article," Hasina said.

About the current provision of displaying portraits of the president and the prime minister in government and semi-government offices, she said her party proposed to scrap this provision.

She said there is no need for such a provision in the constitution since a government can issue an order and make it mandatory to display those portraits.

"Instead, we proposed making a provision of displaying the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in government, semi-government and autonomous offices," she added.

On constitutional recognition of indigenous people, Hasina said they can get constitutional recognition as "ethnic minority groups".

Asked whether she suggested that the special committee invites the main opposition BNP again, Hasina said it would be a waste of time as they did not respond positively the first time.

 

[FreekiN]

Be careful.

That's all I have to say. Dwelve into religion just a tiny bit and you invite the shitstorm.

 

[Whiplash]

Be careful.

That's all I have to say. Dwelve into religion just a tiny bit and you invite the shitstorm.

Wait didn't the FM just say bangladesh was secular?

 

[Avisheik]

If some other party wins the next election they will bring up the religious issue again and stirr the public. The government employs these cheap tactics to divert people's attention from real issues that needs to be confronted

 

[eastwatch]

Who cares what Hasina and Dipu Moni wants or not, Islam shall remain the state religion of Bangladesh. We do not have to give in to Indian or Mullahs' pressure. Neither we will be secular nor we will be come Taliban. Hasina knows going against the trend of the population will only radicalize the population.

It is good she knows her and her India-loving Party have limitations on the matter of revision of Constitution. A referendum will be required to change a major part of the Constitution, and AL would lose it. A loss means an immature ouster from power.

Now, I believe the BD posters here are wise enough to understand the mind of the population. We are not amused at the thought of no religion and no Bismillah. It is not a Qafir country. This country is based on the concept of two Muslim majority State(s) in the east and west of India according to the Lahore Resolution of 1940.

This resolution was proclaimed by one of our greatest leaders, Sher-e-Bangal Fazlul Haq in Lahore. He was a Chief Minister of Bengal at that time.

After 1947, our political leaders were always demanding autonomy or outright independence of east Pakistan on the basis of that resolution. No Islam means no Bangladesh, it becomes then easy for the Akhand Bharat guys to demand a re-union. This is why Indians try to suggest Bangladesh to become a secular non-Islamic country.

This time again these Indians and our pro-Indian b*stards have lost, although I believe these Awami Leaguers know this time what Indians are. They thought a miser India will give some concessions to them, which did not materialize.

I am happy that these issues will not come to the forefront again in the future. However, i expect many tugs of war for the next few months.

 

[alphamale]

No Islam means no Bangladesh, it becomes then easy for the Akhand Bharat guys to demand a re-union. This is why Indians try to suggest Bangladesh to become a secular non-Islamic country.

.

most indians don't care whether B.D want to be secular or islamic republic. it is ur country do whatever pleases u & as far as akhand bharat is concerned indians don't want foreign lands, we are happy with what we've got. there is no concept of akhand bharat so relax india is not going to take over B.D

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Be careful.

That's all I have to say. Dwelve into religion just a tiny bit and you invite the shitstorm.

True.

We can see the sorry state of Pakistan, thanks to Zia.

If India were to have a State religion, then God alone could help us.

Thank heavens, the Indian politicians even though they are prized chumps are not as stupid as in the neighbourhood.

Can't blame Bangladesh though. Populism wins votes!!

Who cares what Hasina and Dipu Moni wants or not, Islam shall remain the state religion of Bangladesh. We do not have give in to Indian or our Mullahs' pressure. Neither we will be secular nor we will be come Taliban. Hasina knows going against the trend of the population will only radicalize the population.

It is good she knows her and her India-loving Party have some limits on the matter of revision of Constitution. A referendum will be required to change a major part of the Constitution, and AL would have lost it. It means an immature ouster from power.

Now, I believe the posters here are wise enough to understand the mind of the population. We are not amused at the thought of no religion and no Bismillah. It is not a Qafir country. This country is based on the concept of two Muslim majority State(s) in the east and west of India according to the Lahore Resolution of 1942.

This resolution was proclaimed by one of our greatest leaders, Sher-e-Bangal Fazlul Haq in Lahore. He was a Chief Minister of Bengal at that time.

After 1947, our political leaders were always demanding autonomy or outright independence of east Pakistan on the basis of that resolution. No Islam means no Bangladesh, it becomes then easy for the Akhand Bharat guys to demand a re-union. This is why Indians try to suggest Bangladesh to become a secular non-Islamic country.

This time again these Indians and our pro-Indian b*stards have lost, although I believe these Awami Leaguers know this time what Indians are. They thought a miser India will give some concessions to them, which did not materialize.

I am happy that these issues will not come to thye forefront again.

What has India got to do with your love of Allah?

Be rest assured it does not in the least affect India. Your Constitution means a sausage to India because you will remain where you are with all your contradictions, schizophrenia and paranoia.

It was there even when your country was an Islamic Republic.

Don't shove it on religion to cover up your paranoia about religion and schizophrenia.

It is the spiritually weak you use religion as a shield for their weaknesses.

To be secular, it require guts and confidence. Everyone cannot do so. It requires a person to know his identity his faith in his religion and not be worried that it will be swamped by other. A tough call. But a call that only those who are confident of themselves can call!

if you can't, then be what suits you best and makes you comfortable.

You don't have to use some other country to justifying you lack of confidence in your being!!

It is to India's advantage if BD is radicalised. It will go the Pakistan way. You will merely kill each other, each stating that they alone are the true followers of Islam. See the agony of an otherwise vibrant State like Pakistan, all because of sectarian and internecine killings, as if they require them to excite tired blood when already they have hostilities on the border.

Lahore Resolution of 1942? Check what Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, which include you all had to say!

Here is the favourite Wiki:

The Lahore Resolution (Qarardad-e-Lahore قرارداد لاھو&#1585, commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution (قرارداد پاکستان Qarardad-e-Pakistan),[1] was a formal political statement adopted by the Muslim League at the occasion of its three-day general session on 22–24 March 1940 that called for greater Muslim autonomy in British India. This has been largely interpreted as a demand for a separate Muslim state, Pakistan.[2] The resolution was presented by A. K. Fazlul Huq and was authored by Muhammad Zafrulla Khan.

See what it has created for Pakistan and Bangladesh. You made it a piece of trash that was not worth the paper it was written on. Now, if you feel the creation of an Independent Bangladesh is wrong, there is nothing wrong in re-establishing the Lahore Resolution. Please do not waste any more time, just go ahead pronto!! The Razaakar will be delighted. They will extract their pound of flesh for all that you have done to them, since their numbers will be heavier with the re-recognising the tenets of the Lahore Resolution of 1942.

Two Muslim majority state, but ONE Pakistan!

Don't worry about the Akhand Bharat chaps, even the common Indian does not want to 'inherit' a bread basket case that boasts of their textiles as if it were space technology!

We don't want to be pulled down like West Germany was pulled down when East Germany (a bread basket case) united.

Please understand we have that much of intelligence not to inherit peoples who will drag us down.

Please enjoy your status as a country and stop whining and blaming others for your schizophrenia and paranoia.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

If some other party wins the next election they will bring up the religious issue again and stirr the public. The government employs these cheap tactics to divert people's attention from real issues that needs to be confronted

Absolutely correct.

 

[eastwatch]

True.

We can see the sorry state of Pakistan, thanks to Zia. If India were to have a State religion, then God alone could help us. Thank heavens, the Indian politicians even though they are prized chumps are not as stupid as in the neighbourhood.

Can't blame Bangladesh though. Populism wins votes!! What has India got to do with your love of Allah? Be rest assured it does not in the least affect India. Your Constitution means a sausage to India because you will remain where you are with all your contradictions, schizophrenia and paranoia.

It was there even when your country was an Islamic Republic. Don't shove it on religion to cover up your paranoia about religion and schizophrenia. It is the spiritually weak you use religion as a shield for their weaknesses.

To be secular, it require guts and confidence. Everyone cannot do so. It requires a person to know his identity his faith in his religion and not be worried that it will be swamped by other. A tough call. But a call that only those who are confident of themselves can call!

if you can't, then be what suits you best and makes you comfortable. You don't have to use some other country to justifying you lack of confidence in your being!!

It is to India's advantage if BD is radicalised. It will go the Pakistan way. You will merely kill each other, each stating that they alone are the true followers of Islam. See the agony of an otherwise vibrant State like Pakistan, all because of sectarian and internecine killings, as if they require them to excite tired blood when already they have hostilities on the border.

Lahore Resolution of 1942? Check what Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, which include you all had to say! Here is the favourite Wiki:

The Lahore Resolution (Qarardad-e-Lahore قرارداد لاھو&#1585, commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution (قرارداد پاکستان Qarardad-e-Pakistan),[1] was a formal political statement adopted by the Muslim League at the occasion of its three-day general session on 22–24 March 1940 that called for greater Muslim autonomy in British India. This has been largely interpreted as a demand for a separate Muslim state, Pakistan.[2] The resolution was presented by A. K. Fazlul Huq and was authored by Muhammad Zafrulla Khan.

See what it has created for Pakistan and Bangladesh. You made it a piece of trash that was not worth the paper it was written on. Now, if you feel the creation of an Independent Bangladesh is wrong, there is nothing wrong in re-establishing the Lahore Resolution. Please do not waste any more time, just go ahead pronto!! The Razaakar will be delighted. They will extract their pound of flesh for all that you have done to them, since their numbers will be heavier with the re-recognising the tenets of the Lahore Resolution of 1940

Two Muslim majority state, but ONE Pakistan! Don't worry about the Akhand Bharat chaps, even the common Indian does not want to 'inherit' a bread basket case that boasts of their textiles as if it were space technology!

We don't want to be pulled down like West Germany was pulled down when East Germany (a bread basket case) united. Please understand we have that much of intelligence not to inherit peoples who will drag us down.

Please enjoy your status as a country and stop whining and blaming others for your schizophrenia and paranoia.

I think, the decision by your Aunti has tremedously made you guys unhappy. But, she has saved the country from radicalization. A srcularism would have a very negative reaction among the population. it would have created more storms and the radicals would have recruited their kind more in number.

So, you should congratulate your pretty Aunti for taking a Statewoman-like decision. We will remain an Islamic country, but not a Taliban country, where people would always say, 'Islam Khatre me hain,' whereby they themselves are the cause of this danger. Pakistan's Zia like people will not be born in Bangladesh. We will remain a moderate Muslim country.

 

[TopCat]

I think, the decision by your Aunti has tremedously made you guys unhappy. But, she has saved the country from radicalization. A srcularism would have a very negative reaction among the population. it would have created more storms and the radicals would have recruited their kind more in number.

So, you should congratulate your pretty Aunti for taking a Statewoman-like decision. We will remain an Islamic country, but not a Taliban country, where people would always say, 'Islam Khatre me hain,' whereby they themselves are the cause of this danger. Pakistan's Zia like people will not be born in Bangladesh. We will remain a moderate Muslim country.

What makes you think, a state religion will make you a Islamic Republic?? Heck its still People's Republic of Bangladesh if you did not know then check with UN entry for the name of Bangladesh.
We have state bird called Duel, state fruit called Jackfruits, state animal tiger and so on. Does that make anybody to stop eating chicken or taste the mangoes.
Hasina should had erased that line which was included in the constitution with and evil intention and by those guys who I believe were the worst unislamic rulers ever ruled Bangladesh.

At the end AL did what it intended to do ro revive the four principle of state and constitution. nationalism,Secularism,democracy and socialism replacing Faith on Allah. Bangladesh does not have Faith on Alla now so you could cosider it a infidel country..

 

[GUNS-N- ROSES]

Dear bangladeshis, THERE IS NOTHING CALLED AKHAND BHARAT. IT IS NEITHER OFFICIAL POLICY OF INDIAN GOVT NOR IT IS LIKED BY COMMON INDIAN PEOPLE.

I WOULD LIKE A SINGLE PERSON TO POST A CREDIBLE OFFICIAL LINK TO SUGGEST THAT INDIAN GOVT HAS A OFFICIAL POLICY OF AKHAND BHARAT.

IF AT ALL INDIAN GOVT DECIDES TO HAVE SUCH POLICY IN FUTURE, I WOULD BE THE FIRST PERSON TO SEEK SEPERATE NATION FOR LIKE MINDED PEOPLE LIKE ME.

 

[Kinetic]

Who cares what Hasina and Dipu Moni wants or not, Islam shall remain the state religion of Bangladesh. We do not have to give in to Indian or Mullahs' pressure. Neither we will be secular nor we will be come Taliban. Hasina knows going against the trend of the population will only radicalize the population.

It is good she knows her and her India-loving Party have limitations on the matter of revision of Constitution. A referendum will be required to change a major part of the Constitution, and AL would lose it. A loss means an immature ouster from power.

Now, I believe the BD posters here are wise enough to understand the mind of the population. We are not amused at the thought of no religion and no Bismillah. It is not a Qafir country. This country is based on the concept of two Muslim majority State(s) in the east and west of India according to the Lahore Resolution of 1940.

This resolution was proclaimed by one of our greatest leaders, Sher-e-Bangal Fazlul Haq in Lahore. He was a Chief Minister of Bengal at that time.

After 1947, our political leaders were always demanding autonomy or outright independence of east Pakistan on the basis of that resolution. No Islam means no Bangladesh, it becomes then easy for the Akhand Bharat guys to demand a re-union. This is why Indians try to suggest Bangladesh to become a secular non-Islamic country.

This time again these Indians and our pro-Indian b*stards have lost, although I believe these Awami Leaguers know this time what Indians are. They thought a miser India will give some concessions to them, which did not materialize.

I am happy that these issues will not come to the forefront again in the future. However, i expect many tugs of war for the next few months.

Sometimes I surprise how many nightmares you have about India! I am sure many times you wake up in the midnight shouting.... "India coming.... India coming... ohhh nooo". lol

 

[eastwatch]

Sometimes I surprise how many nightmares you have about India! I am sure many times you wake up in the midnight shouting.... "India coming.... India coming... ohhh nooo". lol

We people neither have any nightmare nor an illusion about India. We have nightmares about our own fanatics. Sometimes, I wonder if the AL wants to instigate these fanatics by trying to do things un-Islamic. then, of course, these fanatics may tie knots with their Indian counterpart and start another Bombay or Assam.

 

[Kinetic]

We people neither have any nightmare nor an illusion about India. We have nightmares about our own fanatics. Sometimes, I wonder if the AL wants to instigate these fanatics by trying to do things un-Islamic. then, of course, these fanatics may tie knots with their Indian counterpart and start another Bombay or Assam.

If you want to talk about Bangladesh than talk about it only, do not bring India. Do what ever you want, highly Islamic or un-Islamic, its upto you. Do not start India... India in everything like you do. Another one started a thread with news about SAARC power grid and made heading Akhand Bharat. lol