Govt to scrap provision if HC passes order, says Shafique
Minister urges lawyers concerned to move the pending case
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said that the government would consider scrapping the constitutional provision that gave Islam the status of state religion, if the High Court passes any directive to do so.
The lawyers concerned should move the pending case challenging the provision of Islam as state religion with the HC for its immediate disposal, he said.
The minister was speaking as chief guest at a meeting on “Constitution of Bangladesh in the Light of Fifteenth Amendment” organised by Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee at the Women's Voluntary Association auditorium in the city.
The government led by military ruler HM Ershad on June 9, 1988 incorporated a section into the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution giving Islam the status of state religion.
Shafique told the meeting that there were some contradictory issues in the constitution which the government would remove if the necessary recommendations were placed before it from the Nirmul Committee and other pro-liberation organisations.
He said the government incorporated provisions into the constitution to protect rights of " ethnic minorities" and " tribal people" as well as develop their cultures, traditions, and languages.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promod Mankin, lawmakers Hasanul Huq Inu and Rashed Khan Menon, Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, Nirmul Committee Executive President Shahriar Kabir and Shyamali Nasrin Chowdhury also spoke at the meeting.
Nirmul Committee Vice President Prof Muntasir Mamun presided over the meeting.
Comments