The advocacy of Islam (originating from the Arabian Peninsula) began here in Bengal as early as the 13th century; before that, other Southeast Asian religions like Hinduism and Buddhism were heavily practiced by the inhabitants of this region. From then on, this region was subjected to extreme imperialist aggression that spanned almost seven centuries. Along with it came religious and cultural exploitation.
In the nineteenth century, during British rule in India, religious division-based communalism was promoted. In 1947, the subcontinent was divided into India and Pakistan based on religion. In 1948, there was rising dissatisfaction in East Bengal against the negligence of Bengali script on coins, stamps, and government exams. Increasing discrimination against Bengalis in government, industry, bureaucracy, and the armed forces further fueled discontent.
At the same time, the enriched literary heritage and age-long culture of Bengali society led to a strong sense of linguistic and cultural nationalism amongst the people of East Bengal. As a consequence, the Bengali nationalist struggle led to the birth of independent Bangladesh. Achieving an upper hand over the religious ones in the war, secular nationalist forces were hailed as freedom fighters and were given proper credit and acclamation by the nation. Secularism found its place in the constitution as the guiding principle. Some argue secularism was imposed on the country from above, whereas Communist Russia and its bauble India played a vital role in determining its secular identity. On the contrary, few scholars claim that due to the secular-linguistic movement in the 1947–71 period, secularism took place in the constitution.
Secularism in Bangladesh, unlike the Western idea of it, where the state dissociates itself from religion, translates to religious neutrality, or Dharmanirapekkhata. According to this version, state associate itself to religion accepting the role of religion in public spheres.
The political advancement towards maturity after 1975 (the year that saw the brutal assassination of the father of the nation) was scratched by religious opportunism, a mechanism used even by democratic governments to garner support and legitimize their power. It bruised the skin of newly born Bangladesh, which will eventually be a wound beyond treatment. So when the state has a wound on her back and the weight of generations affected by it, how long before it starts to dissfunction???
