Post-'75 amendments to Constitution blamed for emergence of militancy
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed Wednesday said if the 1972 Constitution had remained intact, militant activities under cover of religion would not be so easy going now in menacing proportions, reports UNB.
He disclosed that, in view of the situation, the government wanted to bring all madrasahs in the country under a policy guideline through their registration.
The Law Minister made the comment and divulged the government's plan in an open question-discussion hour after addressing a workshop titled 'Anti-terrorism Act 2009' organised by Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) in its conference room at Gulshan Wednesday morning.
Barrister Shafique said the way the Constitution was amended after 1975 gave the scope for emergence of militancy in some cases.
He observed the rise of terrorism was started through the killing of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
The Law Minister said the 1972 Constitution was formulated keeping Islam in priority and it was stated in the Constitution that the State shall not create any obstacle to flourishing each religion of one's own, which is the key foundation of democracy.
"For this reason, it is being said that the state belongs to all while religion is one's own-and democracy based on this principle," he said.
The minister said, "If the Article 38 of the 72 Constitution is revived, automatically the political parties with the names of religion and the political parties' use of religion would not exist."
Asked whether that article be restored, he parried straight answer and said, "Have patience as the government is only two and a half months old." He, however, said it is not possible to get it done overnight.
The Law Minister observed present militant activity using religion is against religion and Islam as well. "Islam never and cannot allow such militancy," he added.
About the madrasah-based education system, Barrister Shafique said up-to-date and other educational curricula should be incorporated along with the current madrasah education which would help survive competition in all areas, including job, business and other productive and development fields. As a result, the country will move further ahead.
He posed a question what is happening in the religious institutions. Their purpose is to train up the students in these institutions which teach only religion, the Law Minister alleged.
"They don't like to know anything about the Western education. They are against the law made by the people which they don't accept," he said. Rather they want to introduce 'laws of God'.
He said a survey is being carried out on madrasahs by the Education Ministry and it would be judged if every madrasah should be brought under the domain of government.
He disclosed that, in view of the situation, the government wanted to bring all madrasahs in the country under a policy guideline through their registration.
The Law Minister made the comment and divulged the government's plan in an open question-discussion hour after addressing a workshop titled 'Anti-terrorism Act 2009' organised by Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) in its conference room at Gulshan Wednesday morning.
Barrister Shafique said the way the Constitution was amended after 1975 gave the scope for emergence of militancy in some cases.
He observed the rise of terrorism was started through the killing of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
The Law Minister said the 1972 Constitution was formulated keeping Islam in priority and it was stated in the Constitution that the State shall not create any obstacle to flourishing each religion of one's own, which is the key foundation of democracy.
"For this reason, it is being said that the state belongs to all while religion is one's own-and democracy based on this principle," he said.
The minister said, "If the Article 38 of the 72 Constitution is revived, automatically the political parties with the names of religion and the political parties' use of religion would not exist."
Asked whether that article be restored, he parried straight answer and said, "Have patience as the government is only two and a half months old." He, however, said it is not possible to get it done overnight.
The Law Minister observed present militant activity using religion is against religion and Islam as well. "Islam never and cannot allow such militancy," he added.
About the madrasah-based education system, Barrister Shafique said up-to-date and other educational curricula should be incorporated along with the current madrasah education which would help survive competition in all areas, including job, business and other productive and development fields. As a result, the country will move further ahead.
He posed a question what is happening in the religious institutions. Their purpose is to train up the students in these institutions which teach only religion, the Law Minister alleged.
"They don't like to know anything about the Western education. They are against the law made by the people which they don't accept," he said. Rather they want to introduce 'laws of God'.
He said a survey is being carried out on madrasahs by the Education Ministry and it would be judged if every madrasah should be brought under the domain of government.