A case for secularism

The Bangladesh High Court rejected a 28 year old case challenging the amendment of the Constitution making Islam the State religion without a hearing. This case came at a time when the attacks on religious minorities have more frequent. With the impact of fundamentalists increasing, the dismissal of the case without a proper hearing cannot be a surprise.
Secularism is important because it protects the religious minorities. Secularism broadly means the separation of church and state. It connotes that there shall be no State religion and the State shall neither favor one nor loath the other religion or its followers. Secularism gives the right of religious freedom which protects the religious as well as the atheists and agnostics alike. Without it, blasphemy laws come into play and atheists and religious minorities are in danger of their life and property.
The modern societies which are cosmopolitan in nature require secularism as a base. When individuals from all religious faiths come together for work, it is essential that those who are in minority are protected from extremist elements. In a free society, every man should have a right to follow and practice the religion of his choice or to not follow any religion at all if he so desires.