Conservatism in Bangladesh
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Conservatism in Bangladesh refers to the national variant of conservatism (Bengali: রক্ষণশীলতাবাদ, romanized: Rôkṣôṇśīlôtābād) in the country. Bangladesh is a conservative country, where the state and the religion are closely intertwined to each other.[1]
Being a Muslim-majority country, conservatism in Bangladesh is mainly defined by the role of Islam in the society and politics.[2] The shift in Islam's role in post-independence Bangladesh began mainly in 1975, after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of Bangladesh,[2] and remained dominant till now. Early conservatives promoted national, social and religious conservatism, claiming Bangladeshi nationalism as its core value,[citation needed] which "represents a mixture of traditional Bengali customs and moderate Islam".[3] Traditionally, the Bangladesh Army maintained close ideological ties with the centre-right and conservative parties of the country, arguing that the term "Bangladeshi nationalism" upholds the country's identity as a Muslim-majority nation.[4] Upon taking power, Ziaur Rahman, the president of Bangladesh and founding chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), introduced a state-sponsored Islamisation that impacted significantly on society and culture.[3] Secularism was removed from the constitution in 1979 and Islam was made the state religion in 1988.[2]
Conservatism, in most cases, overlaps with Islamism in the country's politics. Its supporters oppose secularism in the country's constitution, as it is understood as irreligion and atheism by the conservative polity.[5] Meanwhile, radical conservatives oppose western culture, calling it "alien culture", and seek to establish a religion-based state.[6] Conservative Islamists also oppose LGBTQ+ rights in the country.[7]
Bangladeshi society remains highly socially conservative compared to the West.[8] According to bdnews24.com, most Bangladeshis oppose homosexuality, same-sex marriage, gambling and drinking alcohol.[9] According to experts interviewed by political scientist Tahmina Rahman between 2020 and 2022, "a puritan, ritualistic version of Islam" has gained prominence in the country,[10] which overwhelms people's support for conservatism.[citation needed] Most recently in 2024, widespread revival of conservative Islam was observed among Bangladeshi youths,[11] particularly due to the Awami League government's imposition of "secularisation" policies[12] and "weaponization of victimhood" by the Islamists under AL regime.[5]
