Bangladesh On Brink Of Becoming An Islamic Nation As Attorney General Pushes For Secular Terminology To Be Scrapped
Dhaka (CNN-News18): In a move that has been described as the rise of radical Bangladesh, the Attorney General of Bangladesh, Md Asaduzzaman, has petitioned for the country's Constitution to be amended by removing the word "secular", citing that 90 per cent of the population is Muslim.
The Attorney General's plea also seeks a change in the designation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is referred to as the "Father of the Nation". The move has been met with criticism from various quarters, with top Indian government sources stating that more such changes are on the cards, hinting at a broader shift towards an Islamic state.
According to reports, presenting his arguments before Justices Farah Mahbub and Debashish Roy Chowdhury during a court hearing on the legality of the 15th Amendment, the Attorney General claimed that the amendments "would align the Constitution with the country's democratic and historical ethos."
He argued that earlier sections of the Constitution made references to trust in Allah and equal rights for all religions, which he deemed contradictory. The Attorney General also expressed concerns over language that he believed created division and restricted freedom of speech.
However, his opponents have dismissed the move as a form of "Islamisation", with experts warning that such changes could undermine the country's democratic values and lead to human rights abuses.
As tensions rise, India has expressed concern over the developments, viewing them as an attempt by Bangladesh's new regime to create an Islamic state. Reports suggest that more amendments are in the works, fuelling fears of a potentially radical shift in Bangladesh's political landscape.
In related news, a special tribunal in Bangladesh has requested Interpol to issue a notice for the arrest of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity, following her failed bid to cling to power. Her removal has paved the way for Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus to take over as interim leader of the South Asian nation.
The situation in Bangladesh is set to remain fluid as international observers watch with growing concern a potential shift towards an Islamic State model.
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