JP opposes ban on religion based political parties

Ershad-led Jatiya Party (JP) has opposed banning the religion-based political parties, but favoured ban on the misuse of religion in politics, reports UNB. The views came at a meeting of the special parliamentary committee on constitution amendment with Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Workers' Party, Ganotantri Party and National Awami Party (NAP) at Sangsad Bhaban in the city Monday. Committee chairman Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury presided over the meeting. After the meeting, JP Chairman HM Ershad said they have placed their proposals in favour of keeping Bismillah and state religion Islam in the constitution. State religion Islam and secularism are not conflicting. The JP chairman said there should be a provision in the constitution for keeping no scope to enact any law against the holy Qur'an and Sunnah. About the caretaker system, Ershad said that making former chief justices the chief of caretaker government should be changed. JP also proposed to make the Election Commission fully independent. It also favoured making it mandatory to inform Parliament about any treaty with other countries. JP Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Ziauddin Bablu and Mujibul Huq Chunnu were present during the meeting.