DHAKA: Bangladesh High Court rejected petition of removing Islam as state religion in wake of nationwide protests by Islamist groups.
Court dismissed the petition and claimed that Secularism was written in the constitution as one of the four principles despite of state religion.
The petition was filed 28 years ago by some activist when a military ruler General Hussain Muhammad Ershad declared Islam as state religion.
Secular activist Subrata Chowdhury said “We are saddened (at ruling). It’s a sad day for the minorities of Bangladesh.”
Islamist Party Jamaat-e-Islami claimed that it’s a result of nationwide strike and victory of 160 million people.
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami said “The people will never accept any government move to remove Islam as the state religion from the constitution in an effort to please a handful of anti-religion persons.”
90 percent population of Bangladesh is Muslim while Hindus, Christians and others forms the rest.