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Bangladesh’s Paradoxical Youth: Unfolding University Students’ Contradictory Perspectives on Secularism Hossain, Md. Akmal
Journal of Asian Wisdom and Islamic Behavior Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025)
Publisher : JAWAB: Journal of Asian World and Islamic Behavior Journal of Asian World and Islamic Behavior

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.59371/jawab.v3i1.91

Abstract

Secularism, dharmanirapekkhta in Bangla, is enshrined in the constitution of Bangladesh as one of the state principles in 1972. It stresses that all religious groups are independent in observing their faiths without fear or restriction. However, in Bangladesh, the concept of secularism has become an issue of contention between secularists and religious groups, particularly among university students. This paper is aimed at investigating the contradictory perspectives of university students on secularism in Bangladesh, as well as understanding the issue from socio-political, cultural, and religious perspectives. This study employed a qualitative research design, including convenience surveys and secondary content analysis, to address the research gap and test a hypothesis regarding the youths’ perception of secularism. The study found a paradoxical view of secularism. The study findings indicate that more than half of the students prefer secularism as one of Bangladesh’s state principles. In contrast, they view secularism negatively from Bangladesh’s socio-economic and political perspectives. 
Islamic Identity Politics and the Ummah in Foreign Policy: Evidence from Bangladesh in the Global South Hossain, Md. Akmal; Rahman, Muhammad Mahmudur
Journal of Asian Wisdom and Islamic Behavior Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : JAWAB: Journal of Asian World and Islamic Behavior Journal of Asian World and Islamic Behavior

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.59371/jawab.v4i1.114

Abstract

This article examines how Islam, as one of the central components of Bangladesh's national identity, influences its foreign policy. Based on secondary sources and employing an identity politics framework grounded in the concept of the ummah, this paper argues that Bangladesh’s external relations are influenced not only by material interests and geopolitical considerations but also by religious values and political uses of Islamic identity. Through historical analysis and case studies, including relations with Muslim-majority states such as India and Pakistan, as well as the Israel–Palestine conflict, the study demonstrates how religious affinity, the roles of political parties in government and opposition, and economic interdependence interact to shape foreign relations. The findings demonstrate that religious identity serves as both a normative guide and a political resource, with its impact mediated by the ruling party's ideology and strategic interests. The contribution of this article is to broaden the debates on the role of religion in the foreign policy-making process in third-world nations, particularly in Muslim-majority countries.
From Words to Violence: Tracing the Trajectory of Dangerous Speech and Its Impact on the Ahmadiyya Community in Bangladesh Hossain, Md. Akmal; Rahman, Muhammad Mahmudur
Muslim Politics Review Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025)
Publisher : Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII)

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.56529/mpr.v4i1.338

Abstract

This study seeks to examine the phenomenon of 'dangerous speech' and its connection to the violent acts perpetrated against the Ahmadiyya Community in Bangladesh. The Ahmadiyya Community, also called the Qadiani Movement, originated in the late 19th century in the Indian subcontinent and later expanded to Bangladesh in 1912. Despite this, Islamic clerics and many prominent political figures in Bangladesh adamantly refuse to recognize Qadianis as Muslims. This refusal has sparked riots, political violence, divisions, and electoral maneuvering in Bangladesh. This research employs the "dangerous speech framework" to delve into the underlying causes of violence against the Qadiani movement. Through rigorous content analysis and the examination of various secondary sources, this study contends that political violence and riots have been incited by "dangerous speech" disseminated by religious orators and political figures. Furthermore, it posits a plausible cause-and-effect connection between dangerous speech and violence against the Qadinai movement, suggesting that inflammatory rhetoric can lead to violent acts. Such acts of violence can have a profoundly detrimental impact on Qadinai communities, exacerbating their marginalization and discrimination within Bangladeshi politics and society.