Since the fall of the Awami League government in August last year, Bangladesh has experienced a rapid resurgence of radical Islamic forces. This shift towards the right was apparent after the army chief’s meeting with political leaders, including the Jamaat-e-Islami. The Jamaat, previously banned by the Awami League government, and other Islamic groups like Hizbut Tahrir swiftly emerged. It was shocking for many to discover that numerous Shibir activists had infiltrated the Awami League’s student wing, Chhatra League.
With general elections looming, around thirteen Islamic parties are aggressively working to gain political influence, though they struggle to unite due to leadership conflicts. They advocate for an Islamic ideology in governance, encouraged by moves to remove secularism from the constitution — a principle cherished since the country’s 1971 liberation struggle.
The erosion of secularism began under military rulers General Ziaur Rahman and General Hussein Muhammad Ershad, further entrenching Islam into state affairs. Despite attempts by the Awami League to restore secularism in the constitution during its rule, the party hesitated to counteract Ershad’s policies due to prevailing religious sentiments among the populace.
Bangladesh’s secular forces are now in retreat. Parties like the Communist Party of Bangladesh and others have declined in influence since Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination. Meanwhile, communal forces, notably the Jamaat, have gained momentum, presenting a threat to the foundational values of Bangladesh. Today, the country finds its secularism under attack, with an environment rife with political turmoil and repression of free expression.
Reclaiming liberal Bangladesh requires a united effort from secular forces to inform citizens and revive the nation’s non-communal ideals from 1971. This responsibility is paramount to safeguard democracy and ensure a future free from extremism.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/opinion/bangladesh-the-slow-retreat-of-secularism/18950/
Category : Opinion,Awami League government,Bangladesh,Islamic forces
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Publish Date: 2025-01-24 10:40:00
