HC rejects writ questioning Islam as state religion

The High Court (HC) on Monday rejected outright a petition challenging the constitutional acknowledgement of Islam as the state religion despite the "secular" state policy.
"The court summarily rejected the petition" Deputy Attorney General Khorshedul Alam told a news agency.
A High Court Division Bench comprising Justice M Emdadul Haque and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order.
Supreme Court lawyer Samendra Nath Goswami filed the petition seeking a rule asking the government why the constitutional acknowledgement of Islam as the "state religion" and "secularism" as the state policy should not be declared "conflicting".
Goswami himself moved the petition while Additional Attorney General Murad Reza and Deputy Attorney General Khorshedul Alam stood on behalf of the state.
The law secretary to the government was made respondent in the writ.
Bangladesh's original constitution in 1972 declared "secularism" as one of the state principles as it was framed in 1972 while the provision of the state religion was made under a constitutional amendment during former president HM Ershad's regime.
Under the 15th amendment in 2011 secularism was revived as a state policy while article 2 (A) of the constitution now says "the state religion of the Republic is Islam, but the State shall ensure equal status and equal right in the practice of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and other religions".
-SS