Bangladesh court rejects petition on state religion

The Bangladesh High Court on Monday rejected a petition questioning whether declaring Islam the state religion in the constitution was legal.

Justice Emdadul Haque and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar scrapped the petition, Deputy Attorney General Khorshedul Alam said.

Supreme Court lawyer Samendra Nath Goswami, the petitioner, questioned the legality of declaring Islam the state religion through the 1988 constitutional amendment, bdnews24 reported.

He also asked for justification of retaining the clause after the 15th amendment restored secularism as a key pillar of the constitution.

Goswami urged for a ruling from the court asking to be shown reasons for not declaring the clause as conflicting with the constitution. The law secretary was made the respondent.