Three major left parties on Sunday condemned the 15th amendment to the constitution bill tabled at the parliament on Saturday following the report of the special committee on constitution amendment, which recommended keeping Islam as the state religion and the provision allowing religion-based politics and political parties.
The parties – the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, and Jatiya Mukti Council – demanded restoration of the constitution of 1972 instead.
The CPB leaders from a protest rally in front of the National Press Club called on all left and democratic political parties and organisations to launch a united movement for restoring the constitution of 1972.
The bill placed in the Jatiya Sangsad on Saturday by law minister Shafique Ahmed is contrary to the spirit of the independence war, CPB presidium member Mohammad Shah Alam told the rally.
He said the state should not have any religion, and secularism and a state religion could not remain together.
CPB leaders said the party would hold rallies across the country on July 6 in protest against the bill.
CPB presidium member Shahdat Hossain and central leaders Ruhin Hossain Prince, Ahsan Habib Lablu, and Sazzad Zahir Chandan, among others, also addressed the meeting chaired by the party's presidium member Syed Abu Zafar.
Earlier in the day, a presidium meeting of the party at its central office also expressed concern over the bill. The meeting chaired by CPB president Manzurul Ahsan Khan, in a resolution, demanded restoration of the constitution of 1972.
Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal general secretary Khalequzzaman in a press statement on Sunday said one of the key aims of the independence war, to establish a secular and democratic Bangladesh, was ignored in the report of the special committee.
Jatiya Mukti Council president Badruddin Umar and secretary Foezul Hakim in another press statement termed the report 'anti-people' and called on the government to withdraw the bill.
They also trashed the bill for not recognising the country's indigenous peoples.
Jatisattwa Mukti Sangram Parishad also held a rally in front of the National Press Club on the day and demanded withdrawal of the bill from the parliament.
Central leaders of the organisation Foezul Hakim, Hasibur Rahman, and Uzzal Smriti Chakma, among others, addressed the rally, which was followed by a protest procession.
Bangladesh Chhatra Union president Ferdaus Ahmed and general secretary SM Shuva in a press statement also condemned the constitution amendment move and announced that the student organisation would hold countrywide demonstrations against it on June 30.
