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Conservatism in Bangladesh refers to the national variant ofconservatism (Bengali:রক্ষণশীলতাবাদ,romanized: Rôkṣôṇśīlôtābād) in the country.Bangladesh is a conservative country, where the state andthe religion are closely intertwined to each other.[1]
Being aMuslim-majority country, conservatism in Bangladesh is mainly defined by the role ofIslam in the society and politics.[2] The shift in Islam's role inpost-independence Bangladesh began mainly in 1975, afterthe assassination ofSheikh Mujibur Rahman, the foundingpresident of Bangladesh,[2] and remained dominant till now. Early conservatives promotednational,social andreligious conservatism, claimingBangladeshi nationalism as its core value,[citation needed] which "represents a mixture of traditionalBengali customs and moderate Islam".[3] Traditionally, theBangladesh Army maintained close ideological ties with thecentre-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 theBangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), introduced a state-sponsoredIslamisation that impacted significantly on society and culture.[3]Secularism was removed from theconstitution in 1979 and Islam was made thestate religion in 1988.[2]
Conservatism, in most cases, overlaps withIslamism in thecountry's politics. It's supporters oppose secularism in the country's constitution, as it is understood asirreligion andatheism by the conservative polity.[5] Meanwhile,radical conservatives opposewestern culture, calling it "alien culture", and seek to establish areligion-based state.[6] Conservative Islamists also opposeLGBTQ+ rights in the country.[7]
Bangladeshi society remains highly socially conservative compared to the West.[8] According tobdnews24.com, mostBangladeshis opposehomosexuality,same-sex marriage,gambling anddrinking 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 theAwami Leaguegovernment's imposition of "secularisation" policies[12] and "weaponization of victimhood" by the Islamists under AL regime.[5]
