HC rejects writ against Islam as state religion

The High Court has rejected the writ petition challenging the legality of the constitutional provision recognizing Islam as the state religion.

The bench of Justice Naima Haider, Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque, and Justice Ashraful Kamal passed the order on Monday afternoon.

In its order, the High Court said the petitioners do not have any right to file the writ petition.

Bangladesh’s original constitution in 1972 declared ‘secularism’ as one of the state principles as it was framed in 1972 while the provision of the state religion was made under a constitutional amendment during former president HM Ershad’s regime.

Under the 15th Amendment in 2011 secularism was revived as a state policy while Article 2 (A) of the Constitution now says ‘the state religion of the Republic is Islam, but the State shall ensure equal status and equal right in the practice of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and other religions’.