Different socio-political-cultural and religious organisations on October 25 demanded Government steps for cancelling the constitutional provision giving Islam the status as state religion and stopping recurrence of sectarian attacks affecting communal harmony in the country, reports New Age. They also demanded a ban on religion-based politics, among others, at discussions and rallies organised in the capital protesting at the recent attacks on Hindus in different places across the country. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Jasad, a partner of the Awami League-led alliance, organised the roundtable at the National Press Club on the issue of recent sectarian attacks on Hindus and role of state and political parties. Chairing the discussion, Jasad president Hasanul Haq Inu called on the Awami League government to drop Islam as state religion from the constitution to stop sectarian attacks on Hindus. Workers Party politburo member Sushanta Das said that the state should be ruled following the ideals of the war of independence of 1971. Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council central leader Kazal Debnath alleged that Bangladesh lost it secular character when Islam as state religion was kept in the constitution.