Religion and Politics: A Study of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Kumar Upendra Ph. D. Scholar, Dr. K. R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. upendrakumar200884@gmail.com Online published on 12 May, 2017. Abstract Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is a biggest religion-based political party in Bangladesh. It is not only a party but also an ideological movement and an Islamic organisation. It aspires to transform the political, social, religious, cultural and economic structure of Bangladesh according to Islamic Sharia Law. It has exclusive membership process, networks and strong organisational structure from local to national level. Its presence in socio-economic and Muslim cultural activities is noteworthy in Bangladeshi society. Its emergence has had major implications in the changing socio-political character of the country. It has accelerated the Islamisation of Bangladeshi society which has had the effect of disturbing religious tolerance and increasing violence in the country. Its patronage politics and strong affiliation with the BNP since the last one and half decades has won support among sections of the public. Top Keywords Bangladesh, Secularism, Bengali nationalism, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islamisation, Military-junta regime, Mujibur Rahman, Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan, Collaborators, Islam, Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Top |