The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has written to Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, expressing disappointment over being excluded from consultations on constitutional amendments.

The Council demanded equal constitutional recognition for Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity alongside Islam.

In a memorandum emailed to Salahuddin on Wednesday evening, the minority rights organisation also called for retaining the Constitution's four fundamental state principles and ensuring representation of religious minorities in parliament and key state institutions.

Salahuddin chairs the Parliamentary Special Committee on Constitutional Amendments, which has begun consultations with stakeholders on proposed changes to the Constitution.

The Unity Council said it had not received an invitation despite being a major organisation representing religious minorities.

“We have observed that the Parliamentary Special Committee on Constitutional Amendments, formed under your leadership, has begun consultations with various stakeholders,” the memorandum said.

“However, as the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has not yet received an invitation to participate in these consultations as a stakeholder,” its executive committee decided to submit its recommendations directly, it added.

The memorandum was jointly signed by the council's three acting presidents—Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, former lawmaker Ushatan Talukder and Nirmal Rozario—and acting General Secretary Manindra Kumar Nath.

In its recommendations, the council urged the parliamentary committee to preserve the four fundamental principles of state policy enshrined in the Constitution to safeguard the rule of law, fundamental human rights, political and economic equality, freedom and justice.

It also proposed removing provisions that create religious and ethnic discrimination.

Citing the Charter of Medina and the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the organisation called for constitutional changes aimed at establishing a non-discriminatory, humane and democratic state.

Significantly, the council proposed that Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity be recognised alongside Islam under Article 2A of the Constitution, if necessary.

Article 2A currently recognises Islam as Bangladesh's state religion while providing for equal status and equal rights in the practice of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and other religions.

The council's proposal would therefore go beyond guarantees of equal religious rights by seeking constitutional recognition of the three minority religions alongside Islam.

The organisation also demanded representation of minority communities in major state institutions, including the Jatiya Sangsad, Election Commission, National Human Rights Commission and Public Service Commission.

It specifically called for parliamentary representation proportionate to the minority population's share of the country.

The recommendations were adopted at a meeting of the council's executive committee at its central office on October 8, before being formally submitted to Salahuddin on October 14.

The memorandum places minority representation and religious equality among the issues before the parliamentary committee as it considers constitutional amendments.

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