This research brief is one in a series on Bangladesh and examines public views on the role of religion in public life. Informed by key stakeholder interviews conducted in Dhaka during May and June 2017, a literature review, and workshops sponsored by the RESOLVE Network and its partners in Bangladesh, the analysis in this brief explores how youth perceive the parameters of Islam in public life. It takes stock of their opinions about minority rights, on what is and is not “Islamic,” and on religious and secular concepts. Findings from this inquiry illuminate key narratives and concepts that should be integrated into policy responses to violent extremism in Bangladesh. Such integration will especially benefit those interventions that seek to shape the media environment, cultivating counter- or alternative messaging capable of addressing and mitigating dangerous social schisms.

 

Hasan, Mubashar. The Language of Youth Politics in Bangladesh: Beyond the Secular-Religious Binary. Washington, D.C.: RESOLVE Network, 2017. https://doi.org/10.37805/bgd2017.5.