The original constitution of 1972 prohibited religion-based politics. As a result, during the three and a half years that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ruled the country, no political party got any opportunity to capitalize on religion for politics.
This means that in the constitution of 1972, religion was kept separate from the state apparatus. Its main spirit was that religion would be a matter of personal practice, and there were no restrictions or obstacles in the practice of religion personally.
However, it was absolutely forbidden to capitalize on religion at the state level by going beyond the boundaries of the individual.
For that reason, Jamaat-e-Islam and other religion-based political parties did not get any opportunity to do politics during Bangabandhu’s three and a half years, it was completely forbidden at that time.
All the religion-based political parties that are currently doing politics in Bangladesh got the opportunity to do politics after Bangabandhu was assassinated in 1975.
Ziaur Rahman first ruled the country by imposing martial law. Later, he legitimized his power through a referendum and consolidated his power. Then, he amended the constitution and abolished the provision prohibiting religion-based politics. Although he introduced multi-party democracy, he kept the electoral system completely subordinate and subordinate.
As a result of Ziaur Rahman’s opening of the way to religion-based politics, Jamaat-e-Islam, Muslim League and some other small religious-based political parties got the opportunity to do politics. As a result, the provision that separated religion from the state machinery was lifted and the involvement of religion with the state machinery started again. In this way, the path of religion-based politics in Bangladesh became smooth.
Although Ziaur Rahman is mainly responsible for the current state of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the Awami League is not free from this responsibility. Because, Jamaat-e-Islam got the opportunity to do politics in Bangladesh because Ziaur Rahman paved the way for religion-based politics, but the Awami League, despite getting many opportunities, did not try to go back to the original constitution of 1972 where religion-based politics was prohibited. Although Awami League was in parliament with an absolute majority from 2008 to 2024, they never went as far as banning religion-based politics, and never even raised the issue.
It is surprising that even among those who support the liberation war or those who practice progressive politics in Bangladesh, there has been no strong demand to ban religion-based politics.
The responsibility for this lies with all parties in Bangladesh, including BNP and Awami League. The people must also take responsibility for this. Because, there has been no strong demand from the people to ban religion-based politics.
Today, the result of this is far-reaching. Currently, Jamaat and other Islamic parties have accumulated strength in such a way that they have now come to the center of power. They are daring to challenge the entire state system. They are also challenging Awami League and BNP.
Jamaat will not hesitate to break the hand of BNP that helped Jamaat enter Bangladesh politics.
And Awami League has also nurtured this poisonous tree.
What is the result today?
Awami League is now almost extinct. It has become so difficult for them to return to Bangladesh politics that it is more difficult than at any time in the past.
It is difficult to find the existence of Awami League on the soil of Bangladesh today.
The Awami League must take responsibility for this. They dug their own graves and jumped into the graves with their own dead bodies.
Such suicides are rare in history.
Scarborough, Canada
