Bangladesh set to embrace Islamic conservatism

Subject

The politics of Islam in Bangladesh.

Significance

After decades in which Bangladeshi politics was defined by the opposition between secularism and Islam, a broad political consensus is emerging around defining Bangladesh through a conservative form of Islam. This idea is gaining currency because of the decline of Islamist political parties and the weakness of traditional political institutions.

Impacts

• The government's gradual embrace of conservative Islamic norms will undercut women's and minority rights.
• Fresh competitive national elections are long overdue but unlikely to take place any time soon.
• Foreign businesses and NGO staff stationed in Bangladesh face heightened security risks.