Bangladesh’s Identity Crisis: To Be or Not to Be Secular

[peagle]

Bangladesh’s Identity Crisis: To Be or Not to Be Secular
Fifty years after it gained its independence, Bangladesh’s commitment to secularism remains shaky.
By Shafi Md Mostofa
December 06, 2021

Hundreds of Hindus protesting against attacks on temples and the killing of two Hindu devotees shout slogans in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, October 18, 2021.

In a couple of weeks, Bangladesh will celebrate the golden jubilee of its victory in the liberation war against Pakistan. Fifty years have passed since it became independent, and secular nationalist forces gained the upper hand over religious ones in the war. However, Bangladesh has not been able to secure its secularism.

Debates about the country’s secular national identity, a founding principle of the state, persist to date. Some argue that secularism was imposed on the country from above. According to this argument, political pressure, especially from India due to its support for Bangladesh during the liberation war, played an important role in determining Bangladesh’s secular identity. But also, as several scholars have argued, secularism became the country’s founding principle due to the secular-linguistic Bengali nationalistic movement in the 1947-71 period.

Unlike the Western conception of secularism, where the state is separate or distances itself from the church/religion, Bangladeshi secularism translates into Dharmanirapekkhata (religious neutrality). The Bangladeshi state does not disassociate itself from religion; rather it accepts the role of religion in public spheres. And in the eyes of the state all religions are equal.

That is why ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation and independent Bangladesh’s first president, allowed the broadcasting of verses from the holy texts of the country’s four main religions over national television and radio.

Has Bangladesh translated its idea of secularism as religious neutrality into practice? Have successive regimes maintained religious neutrality or Dharmanirapekkhata? The answer is no.

The very idea of religious neutrality has been destroyed by the majoritarian opportunistic political culture in Bangladesh. Post-1975 military regimes have exploited religious sentiment by installing Islam as a guiding principle to garner popular support and to overcome the crisis of legitimacy.

Even democratic regimes have resorted to such ploys; the use of Islamic phrases in the Constitution continues.

Bangladesh’s two major political parties, the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have played the Islamic card to come to power. In addition to aligning with Islamist organizations and parties, they have conceded to them the role of king-maker. Islamists have even been made cabinet ministers.

In the 2008 general election, the Awami League came to the power with an absolute majority. It contested the election on the promise that it would bring back secularism as it was in Bangladesh’s original constitution. In the original constitution, secularism was a founding principle. Subsequently this was done away with and phrases like ‘Absolute Faith and Trust in Almighty Allah’ made their way into the constitution.

In keeping with its election promise, the Awami League government restored secularism but kept Islam as the state religion in 2011.

The Awami League’s ambiguity about secularism and Islam signals the polarized nature of Bangladesh society. This became evident during the Gonojagaran Mancho (People’s Awakening Stage) or the Shahbag movement, which called for the death sentence to be imposed on war criminals.

As the movement gathered momentum in 2013, there was a counter-mobilization led by the Hefazat-e-Islam. The Hefazat emerged out of an Islamist backlash to the Shahbag movement and labelled its supporters as atheists and anti-Islamists. Hefazat also targeted secular free-thinking writers and bloggers for making disparaging comments about Islam and the Prophet, and pressured the Awami League government to prosecute those hurting religious sentiment.

The Hefazat was able to mobilize large numbers of supporters to participate in its marches and sit-ins in Dhaka. Its street power, which paralyzed life in Dhaka, rattled the Awami League government. Although it did deploy force to disperse the Islamist activists, the Awami League also appeased the Hefazat and gave in to some of its demands.

For instance, the government accorded recognition to the Qawmi Dawrah degree as equivalent to a Master’s degree. It has diluted the secular content of school textbooks and enacted blasphemy laws. It also moved a statue of Lady Justice from the front of the Supreme Court as the Hefazat deemed the statue un-Islamic.

Not only is the Awami League government appeasing the Islamists but, it is also doing little to protect the rights of minorities. Since 2013, there have been over 3,600 attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. More recently, in October 2021, there were attacks on Hindus, their businesses, and temples across Bangladesh.

Human rights activists have said that in some cases, the government loses the lawsuits filed after attacks on minorities.

Ironically, it was the Awami League, then under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which led Bangladesh to independence 50 years ago. Sadly, a half-century on, the Awami League appears to be falling short in defending Bangladesh’s secularism.

Shafi Md Mostofa
Shafi Md Mostofa is Assistant Professor of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka and an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of New England, Australia.

Bangladesh’s Identity Crisis: To Be or Not to Be Secular

Fifty years after it gained its independence, Bangladesh’s commitment to secularism remains shaky.

thediplomat.com

No nation in South Asia is secular, it is time to be honest with yourself, and stop the lie of secularism, it only sounds good in stupid arguments and in news.

Accept who you are, Muslim, Hindu, Christian or Buddhist, and give due and equal rights to minorities, that's the only way forward for the time being.

When we have grown economically and socially then think about secularism, till then stop repeating this stupid lie to score brownie points with the western world.

 

[F-6 enthusiast]

The separation of religion and state affairs in Turkish-Islamic culture dates back much earlier than Atatürk. From the perspective of political history, this is the basis of the fact that the Turks were able to establish regional dominance even in foreign geographies for theirself.

There is a post-traditionalist perspective that sees secularism as a western term and political order, which in my opinion is a very wrong interpretation.

Apologies i used to think that secularism was accepted after the Republic's founding in 1923 ?

 

[bluesky]

No nation in South Asia is secular, it is time to be honest with yourself, and stop the lie of secularism, it only sounds good in stupid arguments and in news.

Accept who you are, Muslim, Hindu, Christian or Buddhist, and give due and equal rights to minorities, that's the only way forward for the time being.

When we have grown economically and socially then think about secularism, till then stop repeating this stupid lie to score brownie points with the western world.

Bold Part: This is what is essentially secularism. This is what should be followed by the South Asian countries now internally divided among themselves on religions, and majority people imposing their will on the minorities in the respective country.

BD, at least, should get rid of this division and strive for "No State-sponsored Religion", and everyone follows his/her religion without fear.

 

[peagle]

Bold Part: This is what is essentially secularism. This is what should be followed by the South Asian countries now internally divided among themselves on religions, and majority people imposing their will on the minorities in the respective country.

BD, at least, should get rid of this division and strive for "No State-sponsored Religion", and everyone follows his/her religion without fear.

I know what secularism is, the parts you highlighted in bold is not secularism, it is a lazy understanding of secularism, an idealised untrue version that only exist in fantasies. I am sorry for being so direct, but it is needed, because this wishy washy thinking is consuming our societies with hate, especially India, I do not know enough about Bangladesh to pass judgement.

Secularism in its truest meaning is simply a separation of state and religion, that's the simple explanation, but in practice it is far deep with various understandings, and how it is implemented. You cannot force a system onto people who by nature will not accept it. Europe developed secularism after hundreds of years of fighting and killing, it was not imposed but adopted, even then there are massive holes in how secularism is practiced around the world, including Europe.

I live in a officially non secular country, the UK, it is the best country for minorities in Europe, I have travelled to around 20 countries, have friends and family around the word and fairly well read. Pakistan is far more adapted to minorities then others in the region, despite what the news says, the facts speak differently.

Accept the reality of non secularism, but fight for rights of the minorities, with time you can move towards secularism. Right now, in South Asian societies secularism is a myth, nothing more, if you wish to find out why, ask me, I shall explain further.

And, please provide better contribution then simple sound bites and simple statements.

 

[bluesky]

I know what secularism is, the parts you highlighted in bold is not secularism, it is a lazy understanding of secularism, an idealised untrue version that only exist in fantasies. I am sorry for being so direct, but it is needed, because this wishy washy thinking is consuming our societies with hate, especially India, I do not know enough about Bangladesh to pass judgement.

Secularism in its truest meaning is simply a separation of state and religion, that's the simple explanation, but in practice it is far deep with various understandings, and how it is implemented. You cannot force a system onto people who by nature will not accept it. Europe developed secularism after hundreds of years of fighting and killing, it was not imposed but adopted, even then there are massive holes in how secularism is practiced around the world, including Europe.

I live in a officially non secular country, the UK, it is the best country for minorities in Europe, I have travelled to around 20 countries, have friends and family around the word and fairly well read. Pakistan is far more adapted to minorities then others in the region, despite what the news says, the facts speak differently.

Accept the reality of non secularism, but fight for rights of the minorities, with time you can move towards secularism. Right now, in South Asian societies secularism is a myth, nothing more, if you wish to find out why, ask me, I shall explain further.

And, please provide better contribution then simple sound bites and simple statements.

I was answering your previous post and not this one. I agree with many points in this post. Secularism should not be imposed in a country where people are fanatics of religion and it should come gradually.

However, I am of opinion that Madrassahs in their present form of the curriculum should be substituted with secular-type of education that was here during Pakistan time.

After 1971, we see people have polarized. Previously, in schools, religion (Deeniyat) was a subject and boys/ girls learned other things on religion in private schools in the early morning hours.

So, abolish Madrasshas and re-introduce the Pakistan-time curriculum for all the students equally.

 

[peagle]

I was answering your previous post and not this one. I agree with many points in this post. Secularism should not be imposed in a country where people are fanatics of religion and it should come gradually.

However, I am of opinion that Madrassahs in their present form of the curriculum should be substituted with secular-type of education that was here during Pakistan time.

After 1971, we see people have polarized. Previously, in schools, religion (Deeniyat) was a subject and boys/ girls learned other things on religion in private schools in the early morning hours.

So, abolish Madrasshas and re-introduce the Pakistan-time curriculum for all the students equally.

Sorry brother, but I disagree, the Bengalis I have met are beautiful inside, even the two I did not like. If that came from the existing system then there is nothing to change. Improve yes, I suppose every system needs improvements over time, but what you are suggesting is a drastic change that will only bring trouble to your society.

Look at Iran, after forced secularism under the Shah, you have Mullah rule.
Look at India, after pretend secularism, you have regular persecution of minorities, various religious laws all over the country such as banning cow slaughter. the Indian supreme court has made rulings on religious matters, including one back in 1994 I think, where it declared that a mosque is not an essential part of Islam. All this is idiotic and certainly not secular.

Please do not reach for easy solutions, best solutions are those where you recognise the ground realities of your society and adapt accordingly, its the best ways forward, it the only way forward if you wish to see a stable country.

 

[bluesky]

Sorry brother, but I disagree, the Bengalis I have met are beautiful inside, even the two I did not like. If that came from the existing system then there is nothing to change. Improve yes, I suppose every system needs improvements over time, but what you are suggesting is a drastic change that will only bring trouble to your society.

Look at Iran, after forced secularism under the Shah, you have Mullah rule.
Look at India, after pretend secularism, you have regular persecution of minorities, various religious laws all over the country such as banning cow slaughter. the Indian supreme court has made rulings on religious matters, including one back in 1994 I think, where it declared that a mosque is not an essential part of Islam. All this is idiotic and certainly not secular.

Please do not reach for easy solutions, best solutions are those where you recognise the ground realities of your society and adapt accordingly, its the best ways forward, it the only way forward if you wish to see a stable country.

Ground reality is many people are becoming superstitious and fanatics because of surreal education system in the Madrassahs. That should be stopped.

Otherwise, Bd will go down the Hell to Afghanistan and its neighbor.

 

[peagle]

Ground reality is many people are becoming superstitious and fanatics because of surreal education system in the Madrassahs. That should be stopped.

Otherwise, Bd will go down the Hell to Afghanistan and its neighbor.

I seriously think you need to get out of your own bubble, those issues you mention are very much alive around the world, even among so called educated, liberal or modern societies. Search for example and you'll find them in thousands and tens of thousands in Europe or North America.

Don't be quick to judge yourself too harshly, its not required. But its your country so wish what you want.

My main point, from which we have diverted, was that no country in South Asia is secular except on paper and our societies are not secular by nature. You can be blind to it, but it is the truth.