Bangladesh attorney general proposes removing 'secularism' and 'socialism' from constitution

Bangladesh's top legal officer, Attorney General Mohammad Asazzaman, has proposed significant changes to the country's constitution. During a High Court hearing, Asazzaman called for the removal of "secularism" and "socialism" as principles enshrined in the document.
The hearing pertained to a writ petition challenging the validity of the 15th amendment, enacted by the previous Awami League government in 2011.
The amendment made several changes, including restoring secularism as a state principle and designating Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation. The current interim government, however, seeks to overturn most of the amendment's provisions.
While addressing the court, Asazzaman stated, "As a whole, we do not want that (HC) rule to be scrapped."
He clarified that the government supports the petition's challenge to the 15th amendment, aiming to reinstate the caretaker government system and provisions for referendums.
The Attorney General's proposal is expected to spark debate within Bangladesh as it touches upon fundamental aspects of the nation's identity and governance.
The 15th amendment was passed in parliament with the strength of a brute majority of the Awami League, restoring, inserting and scrapping several provisions in the Constitution.
The amendments included the restoration of secularism as a state principle, the scrapping of the caretaker government system for election oversight, assuming state power through extra-constitutional means and the designating of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation.
In his concluding arguments, Asaduzzaman told the court that the interim government wanted to declare the 15th amendment to the Constitution largely unconstitutional, retaining only select provisions.
He particularly demanded the restoration of the caretaker government system and the provision of the referendum in the Constitution.
The Awami League regime was toppled on August 5 in the face of a mass upsurge originating from a quota reform campaign by the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement. Three days later Nobel laureate Muhammad assumed office as the chief adviser of the interim government.
(With inputs from agencies)