Bangladesh’s constitutional commitment to secularism is not a rejection of religion. It is a safeguard for all faiths, especially for minority communities that rely on the state’s neutrality for protection. The 15th Amendment restored this balance after decades in which religious identity was leveraged for political purposes. Undoing that step risks reintroducing majoritarian pressures that have historically threatened Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Ahmadis.
Recent remarks by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed have brought the debate to the forefront. Speaking at a Khatme Nabuwat Parishad rally at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan, he said the party would move to restore the constitutional phrase “absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah” if returned to power, adding that the proposal would be placed before Parliament “if Allah is willing” and if the public grants BNP a governing mandate. The phrase, inserted under martial law in 1977 and reinforced by the 5th Amendment, was struck down after a 2010 court ruling, and the 15th Amendment in 2011 reinstated the Constitution’s original four state principles, including secularism. He also responded to calls to legally declare Qadiyanis non-Muslim, saying such changes would require national unity.
Proposals to reintroduce explicitly religious language to the Constitution may appear symbolic, but they carry significant consequences. When the state elevates one community’s interpretation of faith above others, it signals unequal citizenship and weakens protections for dissenting or minority identities. Bangladesh’s long-term social and political stability depends on avoiding that shift.
The judiciary has repeatedly affirmed that the Constitution’s four core principles — including secularism — are structural safeguards that shield democratic institutions from populist or sectarian influence. Weakening these protections could embolden groups seeking to legislate religious doctrine or limit the rights of communities they regard as inferior.
Bangladesh’s history, from the inclusive ideals of 1971 to episodes of communal violence, demonstrates the stakes: once the state endorses religious supremacy, minority groups often face threats to their safety, livelihoods and citizenship rights.
Maintaining justice, equality and constitutional integrity requires upholding the separation of religion and state and ensuring that constitutional debates do not elevate one community at the expense of another. National cohesion depends on reaffirming that every citizen, regardless of faith, is protected equally under the Constitution.