DHAKA: Law Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed on Friday said secularism has returned as fundamental principle of the state policy following the verdict of the Supreme Court.

“We have overcome a bid to divide the nation,” he said addressing the biennial conference of Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee at Dhakeswari temple in the city.

“Martial law came following the assassination of Bangabandhu while Ziaur Rahman deleted secularism from the Constitution which was conflicting with the spirit of our liberation war,” he said.  

Earlier during the inaugural session, Suranjit Sengupta, parliamentary standing committee chairman on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry said that the Vested Property Act will be quashed soon as the constitution is going to re-install secularism after 38 years.

Advocate Subrata Choudhury and Kajal Debnath also spoke.

BDST: 2115 HRS, July 30, 2010