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India and Bangladesh are reexamining secularism in their constitutions

July 24, 2025

Bangladesh's Constitution Reform Commission has proposed new reforms that notably omit the terms "socialism" and "secularism" from the preamble, suggesting "equality, human dignity, and social justice" as guiding principles instead. This debate parallels similar constitutional discussions in neighboring India, where the ruling BJP party has advocated for removing these same terms, reflecting broader tensions about religion's role in politics. Both countries share complex histories with these constitutional terms - in India, they were added during the controversial 1976 Emergency period, while in Bangladesh, "secularism" was removed in 1977, restored in 2011, yet Islam remains the state religion.

Who is affected

  • Bangladeshi citizens (170+ million people)
  • Religious minorities in Bangladesh
  • Political groups and institutions in Bangladesh
  • Indian citizens (by comparison)
  • Proponents of secularism in both Bangladesh and India
  • Religious groups in both countries

What action is being taken

  • Bangladesh's Constitution Reform Commission is proposing constitutional reforms that omit "socialism" and "secularism" from the preamble
  • The Commission is recommending new guiding principles of "equality, human dignity, and social justice" instead
  • Bangladesh is debating these constitutional reforms in the aftermath of the 2024 July revolution
  • The Commission is attempting to balance competing visions of Bangladesh's national identity

Why it matters

  • The debate reflects deep divisions about religion's role in politics in both Bangladesh and India
  • These constitutional terms, despite their limited appearance in the constitutions, represent fundamental questions about national identity
  • The reforms occur in the context of Bangladesh recovering from "decades of shrinking civic spaces" and "weakened democratic institutions"
  • The proposed changes could impact religious freedoms and minority rights in Bangladesh
  • The parallel debates highlight shared cultural and historical connections between Bangladesh and India

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices