AL claimed state religion in Constitution cannot be changed despite secular stance: Asif Nazrul

The law advisor flags “inconsistency” in constitutional provisions on religion

Bangladesh’s Constitution contains contradictory provisions, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul has said, citing the Awami League’s insistence that the state religion cannot be changed despite its claim to be a secular party.

Speaking at a book launch at the Supreme Court auditorium on Tuesday, he said: “I teach constitutional law. While teaching my students, I realised nothing is more interesting than this, especially the 15th Amendment.

“In one part of the Constitution it says Islam is our state religion. Yet in another part, the same constitution says the state shall not grant political status to any religion. Article 2 and Article 12 are completely contradictory.

“Article 12 was revived in the 15th Amendment, but Article 2 was left unchanged, not repealed. So, it’s a complete contradiction.”

He added: “There was another claim that the state religion of Islam could never be changed, not until the end of time. The Awami League itself said the state religion cannot be changed, yet the same party claims to be secular.”

Nazrul was speaking as chief guest at the launch of Revolutionary Constitutionalism, a book by Sharif Bhuiyan that examines aspects of Bangladesh’s Constitution, including the case challenging the 15th Amendment.

The event, moderated by Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain, was also attended by former High Court justice Md Emdadul Haque, Dhaka University law professor Dr Mohammad Ekramul Haque, and Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder.

The book, priced at Tk 600, has been published by University Press Limited (UPL) as part of a series of articles reflecting on the fall of the Awami League government.