'90 per cent population is Muslim,' Bangladesh official calls for removal of term ‘secular’ from Constitution

The Attorney General of Bangladesh, Md Asaduzzaman, called for the removal of the term "secular" from the nation’s Constitution, saying that "90 per cent of the population was Muslim."

Asaduzzaman also asked forchange in the title given to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is known as the “Father of the Nation.”

During a court session on the 15th Amendment's legality, overseen by Justices Farah Mahbub and Debashish Roy Chowdhury, Asaduzzaman said that constitutional changes should strengthen democracy rather than encourage authoritarianism.

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'I want it the way it was before'

The Attorney General said that these amendments “would align the Constitution with the country’s democratic and historical ethos.”

He added, “Earlier, there was constant trust and faith in Allah. I want it the way it was before. It is said in Article 2A that the state shall ensure equal rights and equality in the practice of all religions. Article 9 talks about 'Bengali nationalism'. It is contradictory.”

'HonouringSheikh Mujib is vital, but...'

Asaduzzaman also requested the removal of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s official title as "Father of the Nation," arguing that it contributes to national divisions and limits freedom of speech.

He said, “Honouring the contributions of Sheikh Mujib is vital, but enforcing it by law creates division.”

He also criticised Articles 7A and 7B, which prohibit constitutional changes that might "subvert democracy," arguing that these articles limit democratic reforms and concentrate power. "It is done to prolong the dictatorship for ulterior motives. It is antithetical to the rule of law," he said.

Asaduzzaman demanded the revocation of the 15th Amendment, adding that it disrupts Bangladesh’s independence legacy and conflicts with the "spirit of the Liberation War" and the democratic movements of the 1990s.

Earlier this month, hundreds gathered in Dhaka, demanding protection for Hindus and other minorities who have faced violence and threats following Sheikh Hasina’s departure from office in August.

"It's deeply regrettable that the council of advisors does not acknowledge the suffering minorities have endured. I have witnessed the atrocities against them—their temples, businesses, and homes," Hindu leader Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari told AFP.

The interim government under Muhammad Yunus has condemned these attacks on Hindus, but it also said that many incidents were politically motivated rather than religiously driven. Hindus, who make up around 8% of Bangladesh’s nearly 170 million population, have experienced more than 2,000 attacks since August 4, according to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist ChristianUnityCouncil.

(With inputs from agencies)