Bangladesh’s Election: Can Culture Counter Extremism?

For more than half a century, Bangladesh’s politics has been shaped by Bengali cultural nationalism and Islamism alike. The clash between the two has led to sporadic violent attacks on liberal voices, religious and sexual minorities in the past. However, since the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024, it has become especially pronounced. Irrespective of the outcome of elections later this month, Islamists are likely to continue their political and social push, potentially imperilling the hard-won rights of many.

But Bangladesh’s intelligentsia can serve as a bulwark. By virtue of history and influence, the country’s writers, artists, and film-makers are uniquely positioned to rebalance religious majoritarianism and plural humanism.

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