The Dynamics of Islamic Radicalization in Bangladesh: Confronting the Crisis

This article examines the implications of banning Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, from running in elections and the effect of the Bangladesh government’s co-optation of the radical Islamic group Hefazat-e-Islam. The article contends that more Islamic radicalization occurs as the opportunity for moderate Islamist parties decreases. Using a variety of qualitative methods, the article finds that banning Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami led to a rise in perceptions of the Bangladesh government as anti-Islamic. To counter that sentiment, the Awami League (AL) government co-opted the more radical Islamist organization Hefazat-e-Islam. Such acts increased Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s tendency to engage in violence. Moreover, radical Islamists working under Hefazat-e-Islam secured a window of opportunity for country-wide Islamic radicalization. Together these findings illuminate the tradeoffs faced by the Bangladesh government when confronted with religious radicalization in the political sphere, offering insights into how the Bangladesh government can better manage such tradeoffs in the future.