Accusing political parties of using religion, ethnic minority leader Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma yesterday said communalism and fundamentalism would not have spread in the country if the ruling system had been people-oriented and secular.

“In our daily life, religion is being used so pervasively by the rulers that it seems we're not living in a democratic state but rather in a religion-based state,” he said.

Religion is becoming an essential part of politics, he added.

Popularly known as Santu Larma, the president of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum made the observations while addressing a seminar titled "Prevention of Land Grabbing, Communalism and Militancy and Protection of Right of Marginal People including Indigenous People" in the capital's Cirdap Auditorium. The International Indigenous Day Celebrating Committee 2016 that comprises 22 NGOs organised the seminar

Larma said religion and communalism co-existed. “The more there is religion, the more there is communalism.”

Saying that the aim of militants was to divide people on a communal line, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon urged the people to remain aware of "imperialist countries" so that they could not take advantage of militancy.

Rights activist Sultana Kamal requested the government to be more humane in dealing with the problems of ethnic minorities.

Sadeka Halim, a sociology professor at Dhaka University, said the books of students from class V to VIII contained many misinterpretations of the Holy Quran, which encouraged radicalism.

In his keynote speech, Dhaka University teacher Robaet Ferdous underscored the need for a constitution which will be religiously, linguistically, sexually, and ethnically neutral.

Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, demanded ethnic minorities' right to self-determination and their constitutional recognition as indigenous people.

Economist Dr Swapan Adnan, Nijera Kori coordinator Khushi Kabir, and the weekly Saptahik editor Golam Mortaza also spoke.