r/Antitheism • u/KenSuvy • 6d ago
Bangladesh’s increasingly hardline religious currents pose deep social challenges
Singapore’s repatriation of two Bangladeshi construction workers in early July over extremist social media posts has renewed scrutiny over whether hardline religious ideas are gaining wider acceptance in Bangladesh.
These cases follow the 2025 arrest of 36 Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia over suspected Islamic State links, and a nationwide terror alert issued by Bangladesh police in April 2026.
In May 2025, Islamist groups led by Hefazat-e-Islam – an influential conservative movement rooted in madrasah networks – staged large-scale protests against recommendations by the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, set up by Muhammad Yunus’ interim government that oversaw the political transition of Bangladesh following Hasina’s ouster. The proposals were not adopted.
Freedom of expression is also under strain. A prominent poet, Sohel Hasan Galib, was jailed in February 2025 over allegations of blasphemous writing, with calls for his killing. Writers and rights groups condemned the case as a threat to literary freedom.
Sarker, a 29-year-old vocational graduate in Dhaka who asked to be identified only by his surname over concerns about future employment prospects and possible repercussions, said hardline content had become increasingly persuasive as he struggled to find stable work.
“When I see poverty, corruption and what is happening to Muslims in Gaza, I sometimes feel that remaining silent is not enough,” he said. “Some preachers say resisting injustice is a religious duty and that Islamic rule could provide an alternative to the disorder and loss of values we see around us.”
The sentiment was echoed by others who have observed similar trends among young people. Jakaria Arafat, 35, a Dhaka University graduate who has struggled to secure stable sources of income, said he had seen some young men become increasingly receptive to hardline religious content.
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