Bangladesh

This entry provides a brief introduction to national identity in Bangladesh. It begins with a description of the emergence of the notion of a unified Bengali people linked to the land of Bengal, a reaction to colonialism that merged western ideas of nationhood with local concepts. This is followed by a discussion of nationalism in Bangladesh, linked to the political history of the country, noting the relationships between nationalism and religious, linguistic and ethnic identities. These relationships define different and contested interpretations of nationalism in contemporary Bangladesh and frame how they map onto political positions. Finally the entry examines exclusions from mainstream nationalism in Bangladesh.