Bangladesh: Checking Islamist Extremism in a Pivotal Democracy Maneeza Hossain and Lisa Curtis

No. 2383 March 15, 2010 Bangladesh: Checking Islamist Extremism in a Pivotal Democracy Maneeza Hossain and Lisa Curtis Abstract: Bangladesh, the world’s third largest Muslim- majority nation, is facing challenges from violent Islamist groups. The government is cracking down on radical groups Talking Points and emphasizing the democratic principles of the country’s • The restoration of democratic government in founding, but radical Islamism still threatens to undermine Bangladesh, the world’s third largest Muslim- stability in Bangladesh. Radicalization and terrorism are majority nation, has helped to counter the directly linked to government corruption and a lack of immediate threat from Islamist extremists. trust in the representative political process. To build trust • Since the December 2008 election, the government led by Sheikh Hasina has taken in the political process, Bangladesh needs to strengthen its steps to stem Islamist extremism in Bang- democratic institutions and develop a culture of transpar- ladesh by cracking down on radical groups ency in the government that fosters accountability and and emphasizing the democratic principles restrains corruption. of the country’s founding. • To ensure that the threat from Islamist extremism remains at bay, Washington needs to remain closely engaged with Dhaka The restoration of democratic government in and encourage democratic trends and devel- Bangladesh, the world’s third largest Muslim-majority opment of the country’s economy. nation, has helped to counter the immediate threat • The U.S. should seek new ways to partner from Islamist extremists. Three years ago, when elec- with the Bangladesh government in develop- tions were postponed due to escalating political vio- ing a comprehensive approach to countering lence, observers warned that Bangladesh’s traditional Islamist influences that undermine the coun- culture of tolerance and moderation was threatened try’s democratic institutions and tolerant tra- by the political clashes as well as by rising Islamist ditions. This approach should include steps to militancy. Since the December 2008 election, the curb poverty, fortify governing institutions, control corruption, and build on the country’s new government led by Sheikh Hasina, leader of strengths, such as a culture offering women the Awami League, has taken steps to stem Islamist relative freedom in both the public and the extremism in Bangladesh by cracking down on radical private spheres. groups and emphasizing the democratic principles of the country’s founding. This paper, in its entirety, can be found at: http://report.heritage.org/bg2383 However, like many nations in the “Muslim world,” Produced by the Asian Studies Center Bangladesh continues to struggle to define the role of Published by The Heritage Foundation Islam in society and governance. A robust civil society, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002–4999 (202) 546-4400 • heritage.org Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before Congress. No. 2383 March 15, 2010 a vibrant community of nongovernmental organiza- these groups, the political center of gravity in Bang- tions, an independent judiciary, and active partici- ladesh could shift increasingly toward Islamism.1 pation of women in the social and economic sectors While moderation and religious tolerance con- have thus far contributed to denying extremists a tinue to be defining features of Bangladeshi politics, foothold in the country. Yet Washington needs to the secular discourse and ideals upon which Bang- remain closely engaged with Dhaka and continue to ladesh was founded in 1971 have been diluted. encourage democratic trends and steady develop- _________________________________________ ment of the country’s economy. Until millions of Bangladeshis are raised out of Without concerted action by government authorities and increased awareness among poverty, governing institutions are strengthened the Bangladeshi public about the agendas of further, and corruption is controlled, Bangladesh these groups, the political center of gravity in will face a threat from Islamist extremists seeking to Bangladesh could shift increasingly toward undermine the country’s democratic institutions Islamism. and tolerant traditions. Preventing Bangladesh—a ____________________________________________ nation with 140 million Muslims—from falling prey to a volatile mix of radicalization and political Arguably, the process of integrating Islam more fully unrest should be a top priority for Western policy- into the political sphere began as early as 1975, after makers. The U.S. should seek new ways to partner General Ziaur Rahman assumed the presidency. He with the Bangladeshi government to stem the influ- removed the reference to “secularism,” a fundamen- ence of Islamists so that they do not become an tal principle of Bangladeshi nationhood, from the urgent threat to the country. preamble of the Bangladeshi constitution and replaced it with a new clause asserting that “abso- A Return to Democracy lute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah” should be More than a year has passed since the elec- “the basis of all actions.” Zia also lifted the ban on tions that put Bangladesh back on the democratic religious political parties, thus allowing Islamists a path. On January 11, 2007, the Bangladeshi mili- role within the political realm. Furthermore, to tary intervened in a precarious democratic pro- prove his own Islamic credentials, General Hussain cess, effectively removing Bangladesh from the list Ershad, Zia’s successor, declared Islam the state reli- of recognized democracies. One more Muslim- gion in 1988.2 These military regimes, which took majority nation seemed to be heading toward pro- power through coups in 1975 and 1982, respec- longed autocratic rule. In December 2008, how- tively, generally pursued policies of Islamization to ever, Bangladeshi democracy received another lease gain political legitimacy.3 on life with elections that international observers Islamist ideas have thus become more prevalent deemed credible. in the country’s political discourse, a process The return of democracy to Bangladesh is a wel- spurred by the rising fortunes of the Jamaat-e-Islami come development, but the country continues to (JI), the predominant Islamist political party. The face challenges from groups that support Islamist two major political parties, the Bangladesh National ideologies as well as from groups that violently Party (BNP) and the Awami League, have found it oppose the state. Without concerted action by gov- politically expedient to create space for political ernment authorities and increased awareness Islam in their own campaign rhetoric and to form among the Bangladeshi public about the agendas of short-term and long-term alliances with Islamist 1. For further details on this process, see Maneeza Hossain, Broken Pendulum: Bangladesh’s Swing to Radicalism (Washington, D.C.: Hudson Institute, 2008). 2. Ali Riaz, “‘God Willing’: The Politics and Ideology of Islamism in Bangladesh,” Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Vol. 23, Nos. 1–2 (2003), pp. 310–312, at http://www.cssaame.com/issues/23/34.pdf (March 1, 2010). 3. Ali Riaz, Faithful Education: Madrassahs in South Asia (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 2008), p. 139. page 2 No. 2383 March 15, 2010 political parties. When the BNP ruled the country While violent groups increased their attacks from 2001 to 2006, it formed an alliance with the JI, against the state, Islamist political parties initiated a allowing JI members to hold cabinet positions for campaign against the Ahmadiyya community in the first time. Although the JI has captured only Bangladesh and demanded that the government about 6 percent to 8 percent of the vote in the past declare them non-Muslims.5 In 2004, the Bang- four elections, it is considered a kingmaker in Bang- ladeshi government, then led by the BNP, banned ladeshi politics. Just before the 2007 election, the the publication, sale, distribution, and preservation Awami League, which trumpets its secular creden- of all books and booklets on Islam published by the tials, found it politically expedient to reach out to Ahmadiyya in Bangladesh. In June 2005, Islamists the Islami Okiyo Jote, a smaller and more radical set fire to an Ahmadiyya mosque in Brahmanbaria Islamist party. and detonated more than two dozen bombs, injur- 6 The emergence of violent Islamist groups in ing two people. As Bangladesh scholar Dr. Ali Riaz Bangladesh over the past decade is another worri- noted in 2004, “The accommodation of political some trend, although the Bangladeshi authorities Islam [in Bangladesh]…has created a context have demonstrated a willingness to deal firmly with within which political radicalism and social intoler- ance are increasing and soon may become the main- the threat. A handful of transnational terrorist 7 groups, some with connections to Pakistan-based stay of politics.” groups, stepped up attacks against the state in However, the U.S. State Department reported in 2004–2005. On August 17, 2005, Jamaat-ul-Muja- its 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices hideen Bangladesh (JMB) conducted the most spec- that the Bangladesh government has improved its tacular of these attacks, a coordinated series of protection of religious minorities, including the bombings throughout the country. On November Ahmadiyyas. The

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