Islam may be dropped as official religion of Bangladesh following attacks on Hindus

Bangladeshi Muslims attend the funeral of a man killed in an attack on a mosque in Bogra district on Nov 27, 2015. Photo: AP

New Delhi: Bangladesh is likely to drop Islam as its official religion following a series of attacks on people from other faiths in the country. The country's Supreme Court is hearing a plea challenging the status of the official religion of the country to Islam. 

Bangladesh, which was declared a secular country after its formation in 1971, was declared an Islamic country following a constitutional amendment in 1988. 

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the plea has challenged the declaration of Islam as the national religion of the country. 

The move is being supported by leaders from the minority communities like Hindus, Christians and Muslim minority Shiites.

Bangladesh has 90 per cent of Muslims, 8 per cent Hindus and remaining constitutes Christians and Muslim minority Shiites.

In last month, a Hindu priest was hacked to death following an attack on a temple in Panchgarh district. Two others were seriously injured in the attack. There have been several lethal attacks on writers and bloggers.

According to a report in the Independent, Islamist groups Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh and Ansarullah Bangla Team are believed to have carried out at least seven attacks on foreign and minority people in Bangladesh in the past year.