Religious Parties Likely Banned In Bangladesh

BDNews24 reports on an important constitutional development in Bangladesh. In 2005, a High Court invalidated the Fifth Amendment to Bangladesh's Constitution which was meant to provide constitutional legitimacy to governments in power after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. The amendment also, for the first time, permitted religion-based political parties. The Supreme Court stayed the High Court's invalidation after the government sought leave to appeal. However now the government has dropped its request to appeal and the Supreme Court lifted its stay. The Times of India today reports with the new Supreme Court decision, parties will be required to drop "Islam" from their name and may not use religion in campaigning. However there are still two more petitions pending for leave to appeal the High Court's decision. A hearing on those will be held January 18.