Bangladesh, July 24 -- Tajuddin Ahmad believed that the state and religion should remain completely separate in independent Bangladesh, Dhaka University Emeritus Professor A F Serajul Islam Choudhury said on Thursday.

He made the remarks while delivering the Tajuddin Ahmad Memorial Lecture at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on the birth anniversary of Bangladesh's first prime minister.

Prof Serajul said Tajuddin envisioned a secular society where the state maintained no connection with religion.

"To him, secularism did not simply mean equal rights for all religions. He believed the state and religion must remain completely separate," he said.

He said Tajuddin supported socialism but believed Bangladesh first needed a demo...