Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
BNP has expressed its hope that the controversial Waqf Amendment Act passed by the Indian Lok Sabha will be reconsidered to “maintain regional communal harmony”.
At a press conference at the Chairperson's office in Gulshan on Sunday afternoon, the party's standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed expressed this view of the party.
He said: "According to organizations like the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, this law is against the basic spirit of the Islamic Waqf system. According to them, the Waqf Board should be managed by Muslims. They have expressed their opinion that it is a direct interference in the religious rights of Muslim citizens." "India is a large democratic state and the Indian government will reconsider this law while upholding the guardianship role of the state in protecting the religious rights of citizens of all religions. We express this hope. We believe that this step will play a historic role in maintaining regional communal harmony."
The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by a vote of 288-232. Having passed the lower house, it will now go to the Rajya Sabha. If passed there, it will go to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. If she signs it, it will become a law.
Highlighting the issue of Waqf, the ancient Islamic charity system for minority Muslims in India, Salahuddin said: "After analyzing various sections of the law, we have seen that this law has attempted to curtail the rights of minority Muslims in India and treat them discriminatorily. Muslims in India and various Muslim organizations have reacted that the 'Muslim Waqf (Amendment) Bill-2024' is unconstitutional and politically motivated."
