Bangabandhu had been a larger than life icon of Bengali life, an institution- he along with his people created a country called Bangladesh in 1971 - he did never think that by putting Secularism as a mainstay in the Constitution he was ignoring majority peoples' sentiment -but the present ‘Greater Alliance’ probably did think so contrary to Mujib’s thinking- that's the difference between the two. By making the provision of ‘State Religion’ the ‘Greater Alliance’ leaders have dug a new grave of Secularism, and also of true Democracy alongside the Mass Grave with our 30 million Martyrs of Freedom Struggle & thus deceived us all- we those who live till the day at the cost of those Martyrs’ Blood .
But keeping the far right group happy may not bring a single vote in the Ballot Box - even a child can understand that.. So it is difficult to realize, why the constitution was made to bleed in the name amending it for better, who would gain from it - common people or the groups in the far right of the spectrum?
The constitution is confusing - more than ever - any body or group can make any meaning out of it- any which way it suits them- and the far right group will not sit idle either, they complete the rest of the job what the present democratic govt has left behind – incomplete . The Greater Alliance Govt came to power more or less with a commitment of bringing back 1972 constitution, but now has paved the way of making this country another like Pak-i-stan instead.
State Religion was inserted into the Constitution quite unconstitutionally by the Army Rulers - bypassing overriding and extinguishing power of the parliament -with some Ordinances. Now a Constitutional Govt did the same thing quite constitutionally in the Parliament session on the30th June 2011, which kept the State Religion in situ. It was as if the previous non -democratic army Govt did make a forecast or did give a guideline as to what should happen to the future Constitution of Bangladesh under the constitutional rule of a democratically elected govt in future, and the present Govt by implementing the State Religion consciously just aligned with the road map proposed and prescribed by the unconstitutional army govt. By the 15 th amendment the govt subordinated & subjugated other religions- which have at least 20 millions followings in this country and thus insulted their voting confidence and put their very existence in this country at stake. The Govt of Greater Alliance thus could not prove itself to be a non-communal one -albeit with gross bias & virulence towards its ailing minorities. It's constituent parties cannot explain itself by any other means. The Grater Alliance is now almost a moral equivalent of far right religious parties as it falls short of any better political standing in the time of exemplary and historical necessity or crisis .
The govt could not & didn't keep its words as promised in pre-election period , it came to power by almost committing the bringing back of 1972 constitution, but instead it brought a disastrously confusing 15th amendment which made shortcut road towards fundamentalism.
Things are thus changing for the worse as we can see, it is a lifetime shocking experience- not only to me but to many, in short it is as if the greater alliance tells us - be communal, i'll be, you 'll be, & that's better for your mental health- we all live in a communal Bangladesh-in harmony.( 'we all live in a yellow submarine '- Beatles).
In this pretty bad twist, it will be more unsafe for Hindus in a while; just as a fisherman can make a guess where the fish might be, just as a boatman can feels when the hurricane would be coming, I - as a minority well know & can feel beforehand - how bad time it will be in next few years for them & indeed for the progressive force in this country by this highly consrvative amendment . 30th june 2011 was the day on which the 15th amendment was passed in the Bangladesh parliament- to me it is a black day - a fresh start of more insecurity more exodus for us, it made rightists very happy, as well as some thick-headed Hindu puppet leaders.
I was also surprised to read the news of Mr. Syed Ashraful Islam, one of the influential leader of the country and a Minister with impressive portfolio, saying that- if they could come for another term in the power they would bring back the 1972 constitution-that was a day or two after the 15th amendment was passed- thus it was a simple confession that they did not bring back the 1972 constitution- which was contrary to the aura of a commitment made in pre-election period. People of Bangladesh voted them with an understanding that-that was the commitment, now after forming the govt they almost say that if the govt brings back '72 constitution it will hurt the sentiment of the people, in fact after coming to power they themselves are encouraging the voters to have a change mind & position, conform themselves with the views of far right groups & look for a communal Constitution. By this amendment the Govt wanted to keep those people happy who did not & would never vote for them. Many say - this is not Bangabandhu's AL , so don't expect that much. My feeling is- political parties in Bangladesh have lost their past vision they needs a pair of spectacle to see their own true colour, along with that they needs some training courses in order to broaden the views of many their businessman MP-S as in the assembly now a days number of dedicated politicians can be counted on the finger tips. On the whole it's very grim & disappointing picture.
In a war between Awami League & Muslim Awami League - although the later has a winning ground - but that picture may not be reflected in the election.
In fine - 1).A secular nation cannot include any religion in the constitution, thus religion- being practiced at personal life of the respective devotees. it is hard to understand how the Govt wants to accommodate state religion & secularism at the same time in the same constitution, 2) the 15th amendment also mentions that the state religion is Islam, but other religions can also have as "equal rights " as the state religion -this explanation does not seem very convincing even at the present moment- in future any body can exploit the ambiguity as the state religion is already at a superior status than the other religions.3) We heard almost the same words the same message from he father of nation of Pakistan on the 11th of august 1947, but can see in today’s Pakistan how all of it went in vain.4) Bangabandhu understood it, he did not follow the same track, he gave us an unique and masterly Constitution with true equal rights for all , but as the legacy of 1975 continues so does the course of the constitution – in the path- that the father of this nation never dreamt of..
Bangladesh Constitution is thus moving backwards with the grave of Secularism & half-done Democracy on its shoulder: It’s a shame and a simple breach of trust and of contract
Author : Dr. Dilip De, Child Specialist, Poet, Columnist, Human Right Activist.
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