CARDINAL ELEMENTS OF NATIONALISM IN BANGLADESH

This article analyzes the formative elements of Bangladeshi nationalism, tracing how language, memories of the Liberation War, secular constitutional commitments and socio-economic aspirations were braided into a durable identity. The study examines institutional carriers of these elements—education curricula, commemorative rituals, party platforms and cultural production—and how they evolved through alternating cycles of civilian and military rule. It argues that nationalism in Bangladesh is neither static nor singular; it is a contested field where competing narratives invoke religion, regionalism and development to re-interpret founding ideals. The article evaluates how identity frames influence public policy, from language planning and minority rights to security and foreign relations.

The body first situates the language movement as a foundational myth that centered cultural sovereignty and democratic participation. It then explores Liberation War memory as a moral vocabulary for citizenship, justice and sacrifice, considering its codification through museums, trials and national days. A third section assesses constitutional secularism and its practical tensions with religious politics, examining legal amendments, coalition dynamics and civil society mobilization. The article also discusses developmental nationalism—progress and social mobility—as a unifying promise that shaped state legitimacy. Empirical vignettes show how these elements informed diplomacy with neighbors, peacebuilding in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and diaspora engagement. The conclusion argues for an inclusive nationalism that protects pluralism while sustaining the integrative narratives that emerged from the liberation struggle, noting policy levers in education, local government and social protection that reinforce shared citizenship.