In Bangladesh, a troubling trend is gaining momentum: the increasing weaponization of religion in politics, particularly during election cycles. A recent analysis highlights how political parties and leaders are invoking promises of paradise and Sharia law to sway voters, raising serious concerns about the erosion of secular democratic norms.
The report, drawing from Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), points to decades of weakened democratic institutions, the rise of religious extremism, and the influence of radical forces at home and abroad as key drivers. During campaigns, candidates dangle ‘tickets to heaven’ tied to specific election symbols, while others rally support under the banner of implementing Islamic laws.
This phenomenon isn’t confined to fringe groups. Virtually all major parties, from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and even the Awami League, have been accused of exploiting faith for electoral gains. Leaders don religious attire at rallies—men in prayer caps, women in headscarves—transforming political platforms into pulpits.
Historical precedents abound. In the 1991 elections, BNP campaigners warned that an Awami League victory would silence the call to prayer and turn mosques into Hindu temples. Fast-forward to 1996, and Sheikh Hasina launched her campaign from a shrine, clad in a black headscarf and long-sleeved blouse, a move repeated in subsequent polls despite the party’s current ban from contests.
The upcoming February elections underscore the scale: 51 parties fielding 1,981 candidates, with Islamic parties claiming 36% of contenders—the highest in five election cycles. This marks a sharp rise from 9.5% in 2024 and 29.66% in 2018, signaling deepening Islamist penetration into politics and governance.
Critics liken Jamaat-e-Islami’s tactics to ‘dark age’ manipulations, yet the practice persists across the spectrum. As Bangladesh grapples with modernization, the fusion of faith and politics threatens to undermine its fragile democratic fabric, demanding urgent reforms to restore secular integrity.
