Sufi Faruq Ibne Abubakar’s Speech on “Why secularism is important in democracy?” on the occasion of “Bangladesh Constitution Day” to Kushtia Gurukul stuents.
My Dear Students of Kushtia Gurukul,
On this auspicious occasion of Bangladesh Constitution Day, I stand before you as the Pramukh of Gurukul to talk about a very important topic – Why secularism is important in democracy?
As you all know, Bangladesh is a secular state where the Constitution guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of religion for all its citizens. Secularism, in its simplest definition, means the separation of religion and state. It is a principle that ensures that the government remains neutral towards religion and does not discriminate against any particular religion.
But you have to keep a very important thing in mind. We are not a secular country as the west defines. Our secularism doesn’t mean elitism or anti-religion. We have a different definition defined by our father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Our secularism means inclusiveness of all religions, where believers or non-believers of all or any religion will be able to practice, perch, and celebrate their religion. No one is to be disturbed by their religious belief and practice as long as they are not harming others.
On this auspicious occasion, I have selected this topic to talk about because you are going to decide the future of this country tomorrow. You are the custodian of all our achievements as a nation. Your thoughts will decide the future of this country and nation.
We are passing a very critical time as a nation and country. Now questions are being raised about the settled issues through a great sacrifice of – 23 years of freedom struggle, 3 million martyrs’ life, supreme honor of our mothers and sisters, a year of bloody war horror, destruction of our country, and many more things. But unfortunately, after nearly 50 years, we are arguing about our very costly earned values. We have paid a very high price to out from a religious theocratic state to a secular democratic state.
So it is very impornt for you to know, understand and be satisfied with the answer of the question –
Why secularism is important in democracy?
The answer actually lies in the very essence of democracy itself. A democracy is a form of government where the power rests with the people, and the government is elected by the people through elections. In a democracy, the government is accountable to the people and must work for the welfare of all citizens, irrespective of their religion or belief.
However, if the government is not secular, it can easily become biased towards a particular religion or belief, and this can lead to discrimination against people of other religions. This can lead to a situation where a section of the population feels alienated and marginalized, which can ultimately lead to social unrest and instability.
Moreover, a non-secular government can also lead to the erosion of the fundamental rights of citizens, particularly the right to freedom of religion. This can lead to the curtailment of individual liberty, and ultimately the erosion of the democratic values that underpin our society.
On the other hand, a secular government ensures that all citizens are treated equally, irrespective of their religion or belief. It provides a level playing field for all citizens and fosters an environment of tolerance and respect for diversity. A secular government also ensures that the fundamental rights of citizens are protected, including the right to freedom of religion.
In conclusion, secularism is not just an ideal or a principle. It is an essential component of a vibrant and healthy democracy. As citizens of Bangladesh, we must cherish and uphold the values of secularism and ensure that our government remains neutral towards religion. This will not only strengthen our democracy but also foster a society where all citizens can live together in peace and harmony.
Lets not limit our learning and discussion here today. Let’s go back and try to learn more and be formed about the idea we discussed here today.
Thank you.
Yours,
Sufi Faruq Ibne Abubakar
Pramukh, Gurukul
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