Letters to Editor

Dichotomy in theology
Molla Mohammad Shaheen, Dept. of English, Dhaka University

Ahmadiyya, a religious sect in Bangladesh is in jeopardy now. The alliance government has banned all the publications of this community. The Ahmadiyyas are the target of some unruly religious zealots. Articles 2.A and 41 of the Constitution of Bangladesh give every citizen latitude to pursue individual religion. But due to pressure, the Bangladesh government is going to ostracise the Ahmadiyya community in our egalitarian society.

The government should learn a lesson from Pakistan. Despite huge potentiality, Pakistan is economically weak because of its religious conflicts within. Religious acrimony has torpedoed Pakistan’s progress. By banning all books of the Ahmadiyya sect to satisfy some vested quarters, the govt has scuttled the freedom of religion earmarked in our Constitution. Freedom of Religion should be upheld. To me, religion is nothing but a lifestyle. If the government wants to honour the dignity of the Constitution, it should undo its promulgation.