Dhaka: Religious Extremist Politics and the State: A Warning for the Subcontinent
No religious extremist party should be included in the governance of any country—history and contemporary reality have repeatedly proven this truth. Religion-based extremist politics can never ensure good governance, equality, or a humane state system. Rather, such politics creates divisions in society, fuels hatred, and pushes the state toward long-term conflict.
In this context, the experience of India’s BJP government is often cited as a major example. Since the BJP came to power, allegations of increased Hindu–Muslim communal tension in India have been widely discussed at both national and international levels. Following the destruction of the Babri Masjid, which marked the beginning of deep communal polarization, there have been numerous reports of mosques and madrasas being demolished, along with allegations of social and institutional discrimination against Muslims. Despite being Indian citizens, concerns and experiences of deprivation regarding government jobs, access to opportunities, and security among Muslim communities have also come to light.
Furthermore, rising tensions and confrontations between the security forces of neighboring countries in border areas have created new concerns for regional stability. These experiences send a clear message to the subcontinent—politics driven by religious extremism does not lead a state toward unity, but rather toward division and conflict.
In this backdrop, many express concern that if Jamaat-e-Islami or similar religion-based political forces were to come to power in Bangladesh, a similar situation could emerge. The concerns include discrimination against minorities, intolerance toward differing opinions, incitement of division and hatred in the name of religion, and the erosion of neutrality in state governance.
The literature of the subcontinent has long warned us about this danger. Kazi Nazrul Islam, in his powerful voice of equality, declared:
“I sing the song of equality.
There is nothing greater than humanity, nothing more exalted.”
Through these lines, Nazrul clearly asserted that humanity stands above religion, race, and identity. Hatred and extremism in the name of religion are fundamentally opposed to human values.
Rabindranath Tagore conveyed the same warning in essence—when religion separates people, it ceases to be religion and turns into blindness. These messages remind us that the true purpose of religion is to awaken humanity and moral values, not to destroy them.
In conclusion, ruling a state by turning religion into a political weapon can never create a sustainable or just system of governance. For a modern and democratic state, secularism, the rule of law, human values, and equal rights for all citizens are essential. Not religious extremism—this is the path that can lead a nation toward peace, stability, and progress.
Sabera Shormin Haqueঃ (Environmentalist, Political Analyst, Social and Cultural Activist, Businessperson) Academic background: Environmental Science, Urban Planning, Development Studies, MBA, Master’s in International Relations; PhD Fellowship in Global Economic Development.
