Dhaka, March 20 (BDNEWS) - Awami League presidium member Zillur Rahman Sunday charged former president Ziaur Rahman of introducing religion-based politics in the country through amendment of the constitution.
"President Zia deleted from the constitution the word 'secularism' clearing the way for entering into communalism," said Zillur Rahman.
He was addressing a discussion meeting on 'Bangabandhu, Secularism and Present Bangladesh' organised by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student wing of AL, to mark the 86th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Jatiya Press Club in the city.
He said President Ziaur brought back Ghulam Azam in the country and reinstated his citizenship."
Bangabandhu made his 'dream country' Bangladesh as a secular state, home of people of all religions, but Zia and present government have turned it into a hotbed of fundamentalism, extremism and communalism.
"They tarnished the image of the country abroad," Zillur charged the alliance government.
He urged the government to shun the path of terrorist activities and extra judicial killings, and not to create anarchy across the country.
Dean of Social Science Faculty of the Dhaka University Prof Horun-Or-Rashid read the keynote paper.
Dhaka University Teachers' Association president Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, President of Bangladesh Union of Federal Journalists Iqbal Sobahan Chowdhury, Former Chairman of History Department of Rajshahi University Prof Dr Mahbubur Rahman, president of JSD Chhatra League Shariful Kabir Shwapan, Bangladesh Chhatra Union president Baki Billa, Jatiya Chhatra Oikkya president Jewel Ahmed Khan, Bangladesh Chhatra Samity joint convenor Mostaq Ahmed, among others, spoke at the meeting.
Presided by BCL president Liakat Sikder, general secretary Nazrul Islam Babu, vice president Rafiqul Islam Kotoyal, BCL DU unit president Delwar Hossain, Secretary Hemayet Uddin Khan Himu, and other central leaders were present.
BDNEWS/1614 hrs
