By Dr. Emanuel Adil Ghouri
In the Asian region, political parties in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and other countries routinely use the religion card to increase their popularity and vote bank, while religious extremist political parties gain acceptance among the common people by regularly committing violent acts against minorities under the pretext of upholding religion.
In Pakistan, TLP has become the third-largest political party due to these actions. Similarly, in India, the BJP, RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Bajrang Dal are playing a comparable political role. In Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, Ansar-ul-Islam, and Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh attract the public through anti-minority activities. Religious extremism has increased in Bangladesh in recent years, driven by socio-economic inequality, political manipulation of religion, institutional weaknesses, and similar factors. Religion in Bangladesh is often used for political and financial gain, sometimes aligning with political figures, which empowers extremist elements.
Successive governments and political parties have used religious rhetoric to mobilize voters and consolidate power. Religious extremist factions pose a significant threat to national security, as evidenced by sporadic attacks on religious minorities, secular intellectuals, and foreigners. Despite constitutional provisions for equality, minority communities—particularly Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and various ethnic groups—face significant challenges in achieving effective political participation and security due to the strength of extremist political parties.
Because of the use of the religion card in politics, Bangladesh witnessed a rise in religious extremism from January to May 2025, further exacerbated by ongoing political instability. This has led to increased intolerance toward minorities, secular voices, and women’s rights.
These hardline groups are forming alliances with other opposition forces, such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, creating a potentially strong bloc in the lead-up to the 2026 national elections. Their growing influence signals a possible shift toward a more conservative and religiously governed state. There may be further implications for freedom of expression, minority rights, and gender equality. This alliance has also implicated individuals affiliated with major opposition political parties in violence and discrimination against Christians and other minorities in Bangladesh.
The power struggle between the two main parties—the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party—in the country’s volatile political landscape often provides fertile ground for extremist groups to operate and target minorities. Perpetrators frequently enjoy a lack of justice and accountability, which further worsens the situation.
According to Asia News, representatives of the Bangladesh Christian Forum attended a meeting at the BNP presidential office in Gulshan on October 13 to express their concerns about minorities in the upcoming elections. Reiterating the BNP’s commitment to building a Bangladesh without partition, a party representative stated, “We all believe that Bangladesh is a non-sectarian country, and we as a nation want to nurture and strengthen this idea.”
Christian leaders expressed their desire to see candidates from their community included in the BNP’s electoral lists and to have their issues reflected in the party’s manifesto. They stressed that without political representation, their voices are not heard in the national decision-making process. Sanjeeb Drong, a Catholic and Secretary General of the Bangladesh Indigenous Forum, highlighted the structural barriers faced by indigenous communities.
Discussing the need to reserve seats in parliament, he said, “It is not possible for any local person to win an election based on numerical reasons.” He therefore urged political parties to ensure that their election manifestos protect the rights of minorities and local communities.
It remains to be seen whether liberal political parties will take responsibility for protecting the rights of minorities or become hostages to religious extremists.
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