Bangladesh

Abstract

This chapter discusses how religion, particularly Islam, assumed a greater significance in politics in Bangladesh despite having secularism as a state principle. The chapter argues that this is a result of efforts from the above by the state and pressure from below because of the ubiquity of religion in social life and religious organizations over a long period of time. While the Islamization process has its roots in the legitimacy crisis of the military rulers of the country who usurped power in 1975, the post-2013 history shows that it is not limited to military rulers alone. The growing authoritarian bent of the incumbent has made it reliant on conservative Islamists. The acquiescence of the secularist parties has allowed the process of providing space to Islamist parties to continue and use of religious rhetoric in politics to become the norm. Two major parties of the country (Bangladesh Nationalist Party – BNP and the Awami League – AL) befriended Islamists for immediate political gains since 1980s. Although the Islamists have very little electoral support, they have played a significant role, albeit disproportionately, in the past decades. The chapter also shows that within the Islamist political landscape more conservative forces are gaining ground.