• Latest
  • Trending

A Muslim leader’s bid to build a secular State: The saga of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

March 3, 2020
Indian higher education scholarships for Lankan estate workers

Indian higher education scholarships for Lankan estate workers

March 31, 2023
Donald Trump

Donald Trump criminally charged in New York, a first for a US ex-president

March 31, 2023
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

UAE leader names his son as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

March 30, 2023
New Disney cruise ship to set sail from Singapore from 2025

New Disney cruise ship to set sail from Singapore from 2025

March 30, 2023
US dollar notes

China, Brazil strike deal to ditch dollar for trade

March 30, 2023
Lankan High Commissioner Moragoda meets with the President of ISKCON Mumbai Centre

Lankan High Commissioner Moragoda meets with the President of ISKCON Mumbai Centre

March 30, 2023
Symposium on maritime security in the Bay of Bengal held in Colombo

Symposium on maritime security in the Bay of Bengal held in Colombo

March 30, 2023
bird flu

Chile detects first case of bird flu in a human

March 30, 2023
Star Wars star Mark Hamill

Star Wars star Mark Hamill lends voice to air raid alert app to warn Ukrainians of Russian strikes

March 30, 2023
Lankan envoy meets Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to discuss bilateral cooperation

Lankan envoy meets Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to discuss bilateral cooperation

March 30, 2023
Women’s collective seeks action against MP who allegedly assaulted Puttalam Quazi

Women’s collective seeks action against MP who allegedly assaulted Puttalam Quazi

March 29, 2023
Cryptocurrency

Central Bank reiterates significant risks associated with using and investing in cryptocurrency

March 29, 2023
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, April 1, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Indian higher education scholarships for Lankan estate workers

    Indian higher education scholarships for Lankan estate workers

    US dollar notes

    China, Brazil strike deal to ditch dollar for trade

    Lankan High Commissioner Moragoda meets with the President of ISKCON Mumbai Centre

    Lankan High Commissioner Moragoda meets with the President of ISKCON Mumbai Centre

    Symposium on maritime security in the Bay of Bengal held in Colombo

    Symposium on maritime security in the Bay of Bengal held in Colombo

    Lankan envoy meets Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to discuss bilateral cooperation

    Lankan envoy meets Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to discuss bilateral cooperation

    Women’s collective seeks action against MP who allegedly assaulted Puttalam Quazi

    Women’s collective seeks action against MP who allegedly assaulted Puttalam Quazi

    Cryptocurrency

    Central Bank reiterates significant risks associated with using and investing in cryptocurrency

    Sri Lankan workers

    New employment scheme with Saudi Arabia sparks hope among Sri Lankan workers

    Bus fares to be decreased

    Bus fares to be reduced

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Donald Trump

    Donald Trump criminally charged in New York, a first for a US ex-president

    Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

    UAE leader names his son as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

    New Disney cruise ship to set sail from Singapore from 2025

    New Disney cruise ship to set sail from Singapore from 2025

    US dollar notes

    China, Brazil strike deal to ditch dollar for trade

    bird flu

    Chile detects first case of bird flu in a human

    Star Wars star Mark Hamill

    Star Wars star Mark Hamill lends voice to air raid alert app to warn Ukrainians of Russian strikes

    moon samples

    New source of water found in moon samples from China mission

    Population

    World ‘population bomb’ may never go off as feared – new study

    India - Sri Lanka

    Travel to India in 50$?

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages

    The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages

    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Watch: Oscar winning song Naatu Naatu

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Indian song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ wins Oscar award for best song

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Naatu Naatu: The RRR song primed for Oscar history

    Keanu Reeves

    11 of the best films to watch in March

    Netflix. Image credits - Souvik Banerjee @rswebsols / Unsplash

    Netflix cuts prices for subscribers in more than 30 countries

    Backstreet Boys

    Backstreet Boys to perform in India after 13 years

    Roald Dahl books

    Roald Dahl books rewritten to remove language deemed offensive

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    moon samples

    New source of water found in moon samples from China mission

    Happy. Image credits - Lesly Juarez / Unsplash

    The world’s happiest countries for 2023

    Nepal. Image credits - Toomas Tartes / Unsplash

    Nepal bans solo trekkers throughout the country

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Toblerone chocolates

    Toblerone chocolates to lose “Swissness” criteria

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    International airlines suspend some US flights over 5G uncertainty

    Saying no to inflight meals can help our planet

    Sri Lanka

    Where are 2023s tourists to Sri Lanka coming from?

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

    Nokia

    Nokia changes iconic logo to signal strategy shift

    Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner

    Selena Gomez dethrones Kylie Jenner on Instagram

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook & Instagram to test monthly subscription service priced at $11.99

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    New features introduced in Whatsapp’s latest update

    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Indian higher education scholarships for Lankan estate workers

    Indian higher education scholarships for Lankan estate workers

    US dollar notes

    China, Brazil strike deal to ditch dollar for trade

    Lankan High Commissioner Moragoda meets with the President of ISKCON Mumbai Centre

    Lankan High Commissioner Moragoda meets with the President of ISKCON Mumbai Centre

    Symposium on maritime security in the Bay of Bengal held in Colombo

    Symposium on maritime security in the Bay of Bengal held in Colombo

    Lankan envoy meets Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to discuss bilateral cooperation

    Lankan envoy meets Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to discuss bilateral cooperation

    Women’s collective seeks action against MP who allegedly assaulted Puttalam Quazi

    Women’s collective seeks action against MP who allegedly assaulted Puttalam Quazi

    Cryptocurrency

    Central Bank reiterates significant risks associated with using and investing in cryptocurrency

    Sri Lankan workers

    New employment scheme with Saudi Arabia sparks hope among Sri Lankan workers

    Bus fares to be decreased

    Bus fares to be reduced

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Donald Trump

    Donald Trump criminally charged in New York, a first for a US ex-president

    Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

    UAE leader names his son as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

    New Disney cruise ship to set sail from Singapore from 2025

    New Disney cruise ship to set sail from Singapore from 2025

    US dollar notes

    China, Brazil strike deal to ditch dollar for trade

    bird flu

    Chile detects first case of bird flu in a human

    Star Wars star Mark Hamill

    Star Wars star Mark Hamill lends voice to air raid alert app to warn Ukrainians of Russian strikes

    moon samples

    New source of water found in moon samples from China mission

    Population

    World ‘population bomb’ may never go off as feared – new study

    India - Sri Lanka

    Travel to India in 50$?

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages

    The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages

    The Weeknd

    The Weeknd is the world’s most popular artist, Guinness World Records says

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Watch: Oscar winning song Naatu Naatu

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Indian song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ wins Oscar award for best song

    Naatu Naatu has millions of views on YouTube and is a viral sensation over social media

    Naatu Naatu: The RRR song primed for Oscar history

    Keanu Reeves

    11 of the best films to watch in March

    Netflix. Image credits - Souvik Banerjee @rswebsols / Unsplash

    Netflix cuts prices for subscribers in more than 30 countries

    Backstreet Boys

    Backstreet Boys to perform in India after 13 years

    Roald Dahl books

    Roald Dahl books rewritten to remove language deemed offensive

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    moon samples

    New source of water found in moon samples from China mission

    Happy. Image credits - Lesly Juarez / Unsplash

    The world’s happiest countries for 2023

    Nepal. Image credits - Toomas Tartes / Unsplash

    Nepal bans solo trekkers throughout the country

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Air quality drops to ‘unhealthy’ level in Colombo

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy

    Toblerone chocolates

    Toblerone chocolates to lose “Swissness” criteria

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Significant increase of overweight and obese individuals in Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    Vistara airlines to resume operations to Sri Lanka

    International airlines suspend some US flights over 5G uncertainty

    Saying no to inflight meals can help our planet

    Sri Lanka

    Where are 2023s tourists to Sri Lanka coming from?

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp for iOS gets text detection feature: What is it and how to use

    Nokia

    Nokia changes iconic logo to signal strategy shift

    Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner

    Selena Gomez dethrones Kylie Jenner on Instagram

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook & Instagram to test monthly subscription service priced at $11.99

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    New features introduced in Whatsapp’s latest update

    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Around South Asia Bangladesh

A Muslim leader’s bid to build a secular State: The saga of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Bangladesh will be celebrating the 100 th, birth anniversary of its founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 17, 2020.

Editor by Editor
March 3, 2020
in Bangladesh, Culture, Recommend
Reading Time: 5 mins read
38 0
A A
39
SHARES
Share on WhatsApp

By P.K.Balachandran/Daily Mirror

Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country where the State religion is Islam. But “secularism” is embedded in the preamble of its constitution, thanks to incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed. However, Hasina had only revived a constitutional principle enunciated by her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who founded Bangladesh after a long and hard struggle in 1971.

In the constitution established in 1972, the Bangladeshi State was explicitly described as “secular”, though after the assassination of Mujib in 1975, two military dictators Islamized it. The first, Gen.Ziaur Rahman, began an Islamization  program in 1977 in recognition of the fact that 90% of the population was Muslim and deeply imbued with Islam at that. Zia replaced the term “Bangalee” used by Mujib to describe Bangladeshi citizens, by the term “Bangladeshi”. In other words, Zia replaced Mujib’s “Bangalee nationalism” by “Bangladeshi nationalism.”

ADVERTISEMENT

In 1988, the second military ruler, Gen.H.M.Ershad, made Islam the State religion of Bangladesh. But when democracy was restored and Sheikh Hasina, Mujib’s daughter, became Prime Minister, she restored secularism in the directive or fundamental principles of State policy, while retaining Islam as the State religion, again in recognition of the deeply Islamic  character of the hoi polloi.

On secularism, the constitution now says that the principle of secularism shall be realized by the elimination of:  (a) communalism in all its forms; (b) granting by the State of political status in favor of any religion; (c) abuse of religion for political purposes; (d)  discrimination against, or persecution of, persons practicing a particular religion.

Mujib’s Secularism

In his article entitled “Secularism, Bangabandhu, Bangladesh” in The Daily Star dated August 15, 2015, Anisur Rahman quotes Professor Abdur Razzak as saying that among the leaders of the freedom struggle in the Indian subcontinent, Sheikh Mujib had a unique though unrecognized  place. Mujib was the first to develop  “linguistic nationalism” as opposed to Gandhi’s “territorial” (Indian) nationalism and Jinnah’s “religious” (Islamic) nationalism.   Mujib’s Bangalee nationalism transcended religious communities and emphasized bonds of language and culture rather than religion.  Mujib’s nationalism was thus secular.

“Sheikh Mujib had united the people to establish a state where cultural identity (language and traditions mostly) of the people will rule over their religious identity. Consequently, ‘common’ interests ruled out ‘communal’ interests. The word ‘Bangalee’ which had been used by Bangabandhu frequently, was adopted in the constitution to offer a ‘non-religious’ understanding of nationalism. In other words ‘Bangalee’ had been coined by him to mean anti-communalism,” Anisur Rahman says.

However, for Mujib, secularism did not mean irreligion or the banishment of religion. His secularism was inclusive of all religious practices to ensure the unity of religious communities. This  was also Mahatma Gandhi’s notion of secularism. Gandhi was protective of all religions even as he was a practicing Hindu and used Hindu ideas and symbolism to propagate his political ideas.

Though Mujib did not accept Islam as the State religion, he did not ban religion from the State. In this way he was different from Kemal Ataturk of Turkey. In fact, Mujib protected religious sensitivity in the public domain.

Following his return from a Pakistani jail on January 10, 1972, after an independent Bangladesh had emerged from struggle and war, Mujib said: “I want to make it clear in explicit language that Bangladesh will be an ideal state. No special religion will form its basis. The very basis of the state will be democracy, socialism and secularism. Famers, laborers, and Hindus and Muslims of this country will live in happiness and peace.”

He clarified to the conservative majority in his country that secularism did not mean absence of religion. “You are a Muslim; you perform your religious rites. The Hindus, Christians, Buddhists all will freely perform their religious rites. There is no irreligiousness on the soil of Bangladesh but there is secularism. This sentence has a meaning and the meaning is that none would be allowed to exploit the people in the name of religion. No communal politics will be allowed in the country.”

However, within two or three years of the birth of the new country, critics were successful in propagating the notion that secularism is irreligion and anti-Islamic. This prompted an anguished Mujib to say: “A slanderous rumor is being circulated against us that we are not believers in Islam. In response to this, our position is very clear. We are not believers in any label of Islam. I believe in the Islam of justice. Our Islam is the Islam of the holy and merciful Prophet.”

King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and the Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi asked Mujib to change the name of Bangladesh from the “People’ Republic of Bangladesh” to the “Islamic Republic of Bangladesh” when they met him at the Nonaligned Summit in Algiers in 1973. But Mujib told Gaddafi: “The people of Bangladesh, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, fought together to realize their rights, for their independence. So, your proposal cannot be accepted.”

However, there was a shift in Mujib’s commitment to secularism shortly after that due to internal unrest. He re-established the Islamic Foundation in 1974. Bangladesh joined the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1974. Mujib was also eager to establish diplomatic relations with the Islamic countries which opposed the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Bangladesh became one of the founding members of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) established in 1974. Finally, Mujib began using Islamic idioms in his speeches.

If Secular, Why Campaign For Pakistan?

One will naturally want to know why a “secular” or Bangalee nationalist Mujib spend his early political life as an ardent campaigner for an Islamic State of Pakistan or a homeland for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent? Mujib joined Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s Muslim League because he sincerely believed that the Muslims of Bengal and India will not get justice and equality in an independent India governed by a Hindu-majority.

However, even while campaigning for an Islamic State of Pakistan, Mujib would vigorously assert his Bangalee identity and rights. In Muslim League rallies in Delhi and North India, he would shout slogans in Bangla.  To convince followers of the popular but anti-Pakistan Bangalee leader Fazlul Huq to join the Pakistan movement, Mujib would say that there woudl be two independent and sovereign “Pakistans” – one comprising the Eastern Indian provinces of Bengal and Assam called “East Pakistan”, and another comprising the Western Indian provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and the Frontier province called “West Pakistan”.

In fact, Mujib protested against the use of the term “East Pakistan”. He wanted the term “East Bengal” to be retained to keep the Bangalee identity of the province.

In their paper “Philosophy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”( https://www.elkjournals.com/M)  two academics, H. M. Mostafizur Rahman and Supad Kumar Ghose, say that when Mujib went to China to attend a Peace Conference as a member of an official Pakistani delegation in 1952, he spoke in Bangla (the Bangalee language) though he could speak English fluently. After Bangladesh joined the United Nations, Mujib addressed the world body in Bangla, the first ever time a delegate spoke in that language.

According Mostafizur Rahman and Ghose, Mujib had secretly planned to carve out a “Bangladesh” even in the 1950s and 60s. By the time the Bangla language movement began in 1952, Mujib was convinced that Pakistan, though a “good idea” in the beginning, was not serving the interests of the Bangalees, despite the fact that they were the majority in Pakistan. In the 1950s he formed the  “Swadeen Bangla Biplobi Parishad (Independent Bengal Revolutionary Council).

According to writers S.A.Karim and Afsan Chowdury, Mujib crossed over to Agartala in India in 1962 to contact Indian Prime Minister Nehru to get India’s help for his independence movement. But Nehru advised him to build up a domestic movement first before making a bid for independence.

END

 

Related Posts

Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo celebrates 52 nd. National Day
Bangladesh

Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo celebrates 52 nd. National Day

March 29, 2023
The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages
Arts

The gran who couldn’t: Indu Balachandran’s latest book is for readers of all ages

March 25, 2023
Lankan envoy Moragoda meets Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman
Culture

Lankan envoy Moragoda meets Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman

March 21, 2023
Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar inaugurates “Geoffrey Bawa; It is Essential To be There” exhibition
Culture

Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar inaugurates “Geoffrey Bawa; It is Essential To be There” exhibition

March 19, 2023
Pakistani Punjab’s Spring Festival
Culture

Pakistani Punjab’s Spring Festival

March 14, 2023
Buddhism’s place in the history of China-India ties  
China

Buddhism’s place in the history of China-India ties  

March 13, 2023
  • Electricity

    Power cut schedule for today in Sri Lanka: Uninterrupted power supply

    60159 shares
    Share 24086 Tweet 15031
  • Registration open for National Fuel Pass

    6636 shares
    Share 2692 Tweet 1644
  • Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

    1799 shares
    Share 726 Tweet 447
  • WATCH : Yohani’s first live performance in India

    790 shares
    Share 329 Tweet 192
  • Power interruption schedule released: Check your area power cut time

    742 shares
    Share 320 Tweet 176
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2022 All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
  • Videos

© 2022 All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

eskisehir escort -

https://www.vudols.com/

- Sağlık Personeli - mersin escort - Antalya korsan taksi