Religion, statehood and democracy

There is considerable confusion regarding the meaning of ‘secularism’ in Bangladesh. According to the Constitution, we are a secular republic. However, many educated Muslims in Bangladesh consider that ‘secularism’ necessarily involves ‘complete absence of manifestation of religion in the public sphere’ and that therefore secularism is at odds with religion.

Equally, there is much confusion in Bangladesh as to the nature and form of the state in Islam. Does Islam contemplate a ‘minimal’ or an ‘active/interventionist’ state? What do the texts say about the form of a State? How is it similar or different from Western conceptions of statehood?

We examine the following issues as part of our research:

• Meaning of ‘secularism’ in the context of the legal framework and socio-economic and political realities of Bangladesh;
• Competing meanings of secularism – i.e., secularism understood as ‘State being equidistant from all religions’ vs secularism understood as ‘absence of religious manifestations in the public sphere’.
• Whether ‘secularism’ is necessarily antithetical to religious principles and values.
• Comparative study of ‘constitutional secularism’ with emerging trends of ‘secular fundamentalism’ or ‘illiberal secularism’ akin to religious fanaticism.
• Nature and role of State according to religious scriptures and texts.