RELIGION AND ETHNICITY IN BANGLADESH POLITICS

This article examines the complex and often intertwined roles of religion and ethnicity in the politics of Bangladesh. It traces the historical evolution of these identity markers, from the Bengali nationalist movement that led to independence in 1971 to the subsequent debates over secularism and the role of Islam in the state. The study analyzes how different political regimes have manipulated religious and ethnic identities to legitimize their rule and mobilize public support. The research also explores the politics of minority rights, focusing on the situation of the Hindu community and the ethnic populations of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The paper argues that the unresolved tensions between secular Bengali nationalism and a more religion-centric Bangladeshi nationalism remain a central fault line in the country's political discourse. The analysis concludes by assessing the challenges of building an inclusive and pluralistic political system in a society with deep-seated religious and ethnic cleavages.

The politics of identity have been a central and defining feature of Bangladesh since its inception. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the roles of religion and ethnicity in shaping the country's political trajectory. The study begins by examining the foundational ideology of the state: secular Bengali nationalism, which was the driving force behind the liberation war. It then charts the significant ideological shift that occurred after 1975, with successive military regimes promoting a "Bangladeshi nationalism" that gave a more prominent role to Islam, in part to differentiate the country from India. The core of the article is an analysis of how this ideological contestation has played out in constitutional debates, party politics, and electoral mobilization. It explores how major political parties have instrumentalized religious sentiment for political gain, creating deep divisions within society. The paper also delves into the politics of ethnicity, with a specific focus on the long-running insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It analyzes the grievances of the indigenous communities and the state's response, highlighting the challenges of managing ethnic diversity within a highly centralized state structure. The findings suggest that the struggle to define the nation's identity and to accommodate its religious and ethnic diversity remains a fundamental and unresolved challenge for Bangladesh's democracy.