Marjan Ahmad Chowdhury

• 2013 – 2016: Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• 2017 – 2018: Master of Arts in Islamic Studies at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• 2018: Certificate course in Arabic Language, Cairo, Egypt.
• 2018 – 2020: Lecturer of Arabic & Islamic Studies at Hazrat Shahjalal D.Y. Kamil Madrasah (Islamic college), Sylhet, Bangladesh.
• 2019 – present: Director, Tayyibah Foundation, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
• 2022 – 2024: Master of Arts in Religious Studies at Universität Erfurt.

Reevaluating Secularism, Islam, and Islamism in the Political Landscape of Bangladesh

Emerging from a historical amalgamation of Muslim conquests, colonial ruptures, and a liberation struggle, Bangladesh’s identity oscillates between its secular founding ethos and an enduring Islamic pulse, currently intensified by recent political upheavals after the fall of the Hasina regime on August 5, 2024. My project embarks on a profound inquiry into the complex interplay between secularism, Islam, and Islamism in Bangladesh’s political tapestry, where the holy and the secular exist in constant tension. The study aims to elucidate the nature of secularism in a Muslim-majority setting, interrogating its alleged neutrality and universalism, which frequently portrays Islamic sociopolitical ambitions as incompatible with the essence of the state.

Existing study, while rich, is limited in perspective, often presenting secularism as an unquestionable principle and Islamism as a mere political ploy, neglecting the theological depths and diverse voices of Islamic actors. This research addresses the gap by providing a new perspective within Islamic studies, illuminating the theological underpinnings of political aspirations in a land where faith and governance intertwine. It probes the meaning-making role of secular elites, who delineate boundaries between Islam and its political expressions, and explores the multifaceted nature of Islamism, not as a monolith but as a tapestry of historical discourses.

The study examines four existential concerns: What does secularism signify in Bangladesh’s sociopolitical milieu? In what ways do Islamic actors contest secular narratives? In what manner do their theological perspectives influence Islam’s role in statecraft? What obstacles impede their religio-political aspirations within a secular context? The study utilizes literature review, interviews, observations, and discourse analysis to reveal the ideological influences shaping Bangladesh's destiny, a nation at the intersection of faith, power, and identity, with significant global ramifications for the Muslim world and beyond.

• Chowdhury, M. A. (2019). Concept of Mujaddid in Islam: A Comparative Analysis. Islamic Foundation Patrika, P-26, 58th year, 3rd edition (January-March 2019), Islamic Foundation, Dhaka.