BNP will restore 'absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah' in constitution if voted to power: Salahuddin

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said the party will restore the phrase 'Absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah' to the Constitution if it returns to power.

The phrase was in its preamble and among the fundamental principles, but it was later removed, he mentioned while addressing the grand rally of the Khatme Nabuwat Parishad at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka today (15 November).

Salahuddin said, "If Allah is willing… if the people of this country lovingly give us the responsibility of running the state; if all of you present here — political leaders, peer-e-kamil, ulama-e-kiram — cooperate and remain united, then all the demands raised today will be discussed in the National Parliament, and we will take all necessary measures in favour of this proposal."

In response to calls at the rally to declare the Qadiyanis non-Muslims, he said, "The language you are asking me to speak is not the language of the law. The language of the law is that, to implement these matters and adopt this proposal, everyone must remain united. Everyone must be united in the National Parliament, and the Muslims of Bangladesh must be united. We will, Insha'Allah, accept your proposal."

"Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah" was inserted into the Constitution as a fundamental principle in 1977 through a martial law proclamation and formalised by the 5th Amendment in 1979 after the removal of 'secularism'. 

It was later struck down following a 2010 court verdict, and the 15th Amendment in 2011 restored the original four state principles, including "secularism".