Armstrong
RETIRED TTA
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2012
- Messages
- 19,390
- Reaction score
- 94
- Country
- Location
Bangladesh is not even a secular country, as secularism means a complete separation between church and state. But for Bangladesh this is not the case. Islam is the state religion of Bangladesh according to the constitution. No secular state can have any state religion. No secular country has laws based on religion. But Bangladesh's family law (Marriage, Divorce, Child custody, inheritance) is based on Islamic religion. Islam studies is compulsory in the syllabus of academic curriculum in public schools. So Bd is not truly a secular country, what we have is freedom of religion and a tolerant society. Non-Muslims are free to practice their faith and celebrate their holidays durga puja, christmas etc. Pakistan should remain Islamic republic as 98% of the population are muslims and Islam is it’s founding cornerstone. As for countering ethnic & secterian divisions Pakistan should promote, Islam based pan-nationalism as national identity, and tolerance for minorities.
Better yet ensure that the religious minorities don't end up becoming minorities in a political sense ! As for the allowance of laws based on religion - indeed lets have that, but extend that right to all. If a Jew tables a resolution under the pretext that Talmudic Law has an answer to some problem the country is facing in that point in time...let them have the right to do that and let the Parliament decide whether they agree with such a proposition or not !