Bangladesh's High Court dismissed a long-standing petition that challenged the constitutional recognition of Islam as the state religion. The court ruled that the petitioning group, the Committee against Autocracy and Communalism, lacked the standing to be heard. The petition, filed in 1988, argued that having a state religion contradicts Bangladesh's secular founding principles. The current government's 2011 constitutional amendment retained Islam as the state religion while emphasizing secularism and equality for other religions. Critics argue that the government's stance on secularism versus state religion is driven by political motives to maintain power. The dismissal prevents the government from having to take a clear position on the issue, which could have political repercussions.

The article discusses the aftermath of the 1971 war of independence in Bangladesh, which led to the country's separation from Pakistan. It highlights the brutal conflict that resulted in a large number of deaths and atrocities, including genocide against the Hindu population. The focus is on the efforts to bring justice to the perpetrators through the establishment of two International Crimes Tribunals by the Bangladeshi government in 2010. These tribunals have convicted 26 individuals for genocide and crimes against humanity, with some already executed and others awaiting the outcome of appeals. The trials have been popular in Bangladesh, despite international criticism regarding due process.