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SC ruling to help ensure secular democracy: Shafique
The Supreme Court ruling on fifth amendment to the constitution paved the way for ensuring secular, multiparty democracy and development, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said on Thursday.
"Extra-constitutional takeover of the state power obstructed the smooth journey of democracy, and the basic structure of the constitution was changed by removing secularism from the constitution," he said at the inaugural session of a workshop in the city’s Hotel Westin.
The Appellate Division on Tuesday released the full text of its judgment, nearly six months after it upheld the High Court verdict that denounced military rule and restored secular spirit of the original constitution except for a few changes.
The fifth amendment had legitimised the governments and military rule since killing of then president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975, to April 9, 1979.
"By a historical judgment of our Supreme Court, secularism has been restored paving the way for the state to ensure secular multiparty democracy to move forward with its agenda of development," Shafique Ahmed said.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organised the workshop styled "Combating terrorism in Bangladesh: Developing a national counter-terrorism strategy" in association with Defense Institutions Reform Initiative (DIRI).
The minister stressed strong civil-military relationships, but said, "There has to be a greater degree of trust between the two sides, but that has to be done respecting the constitution, the laws of the land and established norms and practices."
While independence of the principal state organs -- executive, parliament and the judiciary must be respected, there should be working relationship among them, and above all the chain of command with the prime minister as the head of the government for smooth functioning of a democratic state, the law minister said.
On combating terrorism, he said Bangladesh has been successful in apprehending large number of terrorists, but this should not give any cause to relax. Capacity building of the law enforcers, intelligences and improving coordination among different agencies in the country are imperative to fight extremism, he noted.
US Ambassador in Dhaka James F Moriarty commended Bangladesh's role in fighting terrorism, saying Bangladesh plays an important role in regional stability in South Asia when militants and extremists seek to pull the region to an unending cycle of death and violence.
Bangladesh has proven commitments in catching and prosecuting suspected terrorists, he said, adding that it is now important to identify roles of different agencies, civil society, military, parliament and other elected officials to bolster the fight against the extremists.
However, he said, while driving against terrorism, it is important that Bangladesh continues to improve its democracy and governance, and respects the rule of law and human rights.
"I urge you to think about protections for human rights and rule while developing a national strategy to combat terrorism," he told the participants from home and abroad.
BEI President Farooq Sobhan and DIRI Programme Coordinator John Hansen also spoke
SC ruling to help ensure secular democracy: Shafique
The Supreme Court ruling on fifth amendment to the constitution paved the way for ensuring secular, multiparty democracy and development, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said on Thursday.
"Extra-constitutional takeover of the state power obstructed the smooth journey of democracy, and the basic structure of the constitution was changed by removing secularism from the constitution," he said at the inaugural session of a workshop in the city’s Hotel Westin.
The Appellate Division on Tuesday released the full text of its judgment, nearly six months after it upheld the High Court verdict that denounced military rule and restored secular spirit of the original constitution except for a few changes.
The fifth amendment had legitimised the governments and military rule since killing of then president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975, to April 9, 1979.
"By a historical judgment of our Supreme Court, secularism has been restored paving the way for the state to ensure secular multiparty democracy to move forward with its agenda of development," Shafique Ahmed said.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organised the workshop styled "Combating terrorism in Bangladesh: Developing a national counter-terrorism strategy" in association with Defense Institutions Reform Initiative (DIRI).
The minister stressed strong civil-military relationships, but said, "There has to be a greater degree of trust between the two sides, but that has to be done respecting the constitution, the laws of the land and established norms and practices."
While independence of the principal state organs -- executive, parliament and the judiciary must be respected, there should be working relationship among them, and above all the chain of command with the prime minister as the head of the government for smooth functioning of a democratic state, the law minister said.
On combating terrorism, he said Bangladesh has been successful in apprehending large number of terrorists, but this should not give any cause to relax. Capacity building of the law enforcers, intelligences and improving coordination among different agencies in the country are imperative to fight extremism, he noted.
US Ambassador in Dhaka James F Moriarty commended Bangladesh's role in fighting terrorism, saying Bangladesh plays an important role in regional stability in South Asia when militants and extremists seek to pull the region to an unending cycle of death and violence.
Bangladesh has proven commitments in catching and prosecuting suspected terrorists, he said, adding that it is now important to identify roles of different agencies, civil society, military, parliament and other elected officials to bolster the fight against the extremists.
However, he said, while driving against terrorism, it is important that Bangladesh continues to improve its democracy and governance, and respects the rule of law and human rights.
"I urge you to think about protections for human rights and rule while developing a national strategy to combat terrorism," he told the participants from home and abroad.
BEI President Farooq Sobhan and DIRI Programme Coordinator John Hansen also spoke
SC ruling to help ensure secular democracy: Shafique