A number of leaders of the ruling Awami League believe the party has compromised its principles by retaining some provisions like Bismillah and Islam as state religion in the constitution which they say contradict the spirit of the Liberation War.
The central leaders of the AL, which led the Liberation War in 1971, said they believed that the provisions went against the spirit of Liberation War, which would encourage religious fundamentalism and take the nation backward.
But they admitted that the party had to take the decision as a political strategy considering the reality.
Some leaders said that such decision would encourage religious fundamentalism which was unacceptable while some others were less critical saying that it would have been better if the spirit of liberation war had not been affected, but they hoped things would be corrected in future.
'When the world is advancing, we cannot take the nation backward by retaining such provisions in the constitution that encourage religious fundamentalism,' said a central executive committee member of the party having a background in leftwing student politics.
He said that he had expressed his personal views over the matter in the party forum but as a member of the party he had to accept its decision as it was taken considering the 'reality'.
'It would have been good if the issues of religion had not been retained, but the party had no option… You cannot ignore the sentiment of the majority people,' AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told New Age.
He said practice of religions did not depend on whether the constitution recognised them or not as law could not impose it on anyone.
'Most of the people of the country are Muslim and they want Islam as state religion to be retained in the constitution,' said Hanif, also the party's spokesperson. He said even the
educated section of the population were in favour of retaining state religion and Bismillah in the constitution.
AL presidium member Obaidul Quader said that the party had to compromise its principles to some extent by retaining the religion-related provisions in the 15th amendment as a 'political strategy' as 'you cannot be blind to the reality'.
'It is true we could not restore the spirit of 1971 completely as we could not ignore the socio-political reality. However, I hope it could be done it future,' Quader told New Age, admitting that the party had made the decision for 'politics of votes'.
AL treasurer HN Ashequr Rahman also admitted that the party had to make compromise over a few issues but hoped that in the long run the goal of establishing a secular country would be achieved when the society would advance with the blessings of modern education.
'We have retreated from one or two small fronts in the battle on strategic ground to prepare for the crucial battle ahead for full restoration of the spirit of the Liberation War as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,' he told New Age.
AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam at a press conference on July 2 said that some realities had made it impossible for the Awami League to completely return to the 1972 constitution.
'We will say no, if anyone asks whether we are absolutely satisfied with the constitutional amendment,' said Ashraf, adding that their ultimate goal was to return to the constitution of 1972.
Senior AL leader, Suranjit Sengupta, also the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry in his report on the 15th amendment bill said that he had to compromise over number of issues, including keeping Islam as the state religion and Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim in the constitution.
'I have compromised over the issues…although it seems contradictory [to other provisions of the constitution],' he said.
Source : New Age
No comments:
Post a Comment