Re: What if -
It has the same problems but as a younger country it is not better or worse. I don’t think religion is the problem but it should be personal and there should be personal religious laws for the particular community and others who are non-Muslims should be allowed to follow their laws. That is what secularism is about. It isn’t about limiting the rights of Muslims to practice Islam.
Bangladesh may not be in a better or equal position to Pakistan and it can be questionable how secular it really is as there is a state religion. However, Bangladeshi minorities are treated better than Pakistani ones and fewer productive and resourceful minorities are fleeing Bangladesh compared to Pakistan as came to worldwide attention in 2012.
Treatment of minorities there is not ideal as it is in Pakistan and there is little political representation. However their constitution and official secular outlook probably makes their minorities feel more welcome. They have also had more minorities voted in to government ministry. National religious days of all religions are celebrated and while there were attempts in 2006 to inject some fatwas in the constitution this did not come to pass. There is still discrimination against Ahmadis and other minorities but there are no blasphemy laws to be abused.
Bangladesh’s anthem is based on a poem by Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali Hindu, who was a Nobel Prize winner in literature. It has not yet been changed and many Bengalis are proud of it. Rabindranath Tagore work influenced India’s national anthem as well as influencing the national anthem of Buddhist majority Sri Lanka. A stamp is also being released in his name. How Tagore inspired Sri Lanka’s national anthem
Many Indians are proud of Allama Iqbal’s Saare jahan se aache and it is seen as a very patriotic song. If you go to youtube there will be many versions of it by different singers and it has been featured in movies and Tv shows. Lata Mangeshkar has sung it.
Then why is it that this beautiful poem/song composed by Jagan Nath Azad, a Pakistani Hindu, has norecognition. It was allegedly played on radio Pakistan on August 14[SUP]th[/SUP] 1947. But even if it wasn’t Azad got many awards and it was seen as a patriotic gesture. Some say Jinnah recommended it because he wanted a Pakistani hindu, proficient in Urdu, to compose a song on Pakistan. Although this statement is controversial there has only been one beautiful version of it on youtube. It is said Azad had to leave Pakistan due to insecurity and this song was only said to have survived 6 months after independence.
AZAD KI DUA - Shahvaar Ali Khan - Singer Composer - Jagan Nath Azad - Poet - YouTube