Islam may be dropped as state religion of Bangladesh after string of extremist attacks
Bangladesh may drop Islam as its state religion after a string of extremist attacks targeting other religious groups including Christians, Hindus, and Shi'ites.
After Bangladesh broke off from Pakistan in 1971, it started out as a secular state. It was only in 1988 when it amended its constitution that the country declared Islam as its official religion.
However, the supreme court of Bangladesh is considering abandoning Islam as the state religion after Islamic extremists have been blamed for the series of attacks on Christians, Hindus, and other religious minorities. The latest victims of such attacks are Hindu priest in the northern part of the country, East Asia Forum (EAF) details.
Islamic terror group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh since September 2015. However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina still has not acknowledged the role of ISIS in the violent attacks, the report relays.
The publication has challenged the Bangladesh government to send out a clear message that it will not tolerate any form of terrorism. It points out that rising extremism in the country could severely affect its two nearest neighbors, India and Myanmar, especially since ISIS has expressed interest in expanding its operations into the two countries.
The proposals to drop Islam as the state religion on the country does not come without opposition however, with some arguing that the challenge is illegal and is simply the efforts of leaders of minority groups.
Meanwhile, EAF says Bangladesh needs to stop denying the connection between its local radicals and the international terrorist groups attacking its religious minorities. The report also suggests improving security at airports and other important infrastructures, and organizing a new police unit dedicated to counterterrorism and transnational crime.
