The Implementation of Islamization Policy Under Awami League Government, 2009-2023

Bangladesh is the third largest Muslim-majority nation globally, with 92% of its population identifying as Muslim. However, no Islamic party has ascended to power in this region thus far. The Awami League is a prominent political party in Bangladesh that has implemented several Islamization tactics to maintain its authority. This paper seeks to fill that void by surveying the literature on Islamization, bringing together the fragmented ideas on secular actors’ Islamization from the available literature, and applying these to the situation in Bangladesh. It contends that secular governments may be compelled to Islamize public policy by three primary factors: ascendancy of Islamist social movements, intense political rivalry, and authoritarian control, particularly when these factors interact with one another. This is based on thorough content analysis and interviews, total participants 235. In addition to eroding Muslims’ fundamental right to practice their religion, this aggressive and violent strategy is growing more and more antagonistic to democratic values, the rule of law, freedom of movement, and political pluralism. This study will primarily highlight the Awami League’s efforts to convert Bangladesh into a state and will also provide insight into the anti-Islamic actions that the league has undertaken. It has also been suggested that legislation against Islam was passed under the administration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his daughter, Sheikh Hasina.