Minority forums want restoration of 1972 constitution

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Two leading forums of the minority communities Saturday urged the government to remove all provisions in the constitution considered discriminatory to any religious group, creed or caste, reports BSS. Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikyo Parishad (BHBCOP) and Bangladesh Adibashi Forum (BAF) arranged a human chain in front of the National Press Club to realize the demand. Addressing the programme, leaders of the forums said people of the county do not like to see any provision in the constitution which is contrary to secularism, and the spirit of the War of Liberation. Any such provision might endanger the democratic future of the country, they said. General Secretary of the BHBCOP Rana Dasgupta said, "We don't want any cooked up constitution --- we want restoration of the 1972 constitution and its principles." President of the BHBCOP Major General (retd) CR Dutta, central leader ambassador Siril Sikder, General Secretary Rana Dasgupta, Gono Forum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya, General Secretary of BAF Sanjib Drong, General Secretary of Bangladesh Christian Association Nirmal Rosario and president of Bangladesh Islami Oikyo Jote Maulana Ziaul Hasan, spoke among others, on the occasion. The leaders also demanded constitutional recognition to the aboriginals and execution of the verdict of the Supreme Court to establish the basic human rights of every citizen.