Bangladeshi advasi and other minorities

According to official figures, about 98 per cent of the 110 million people of Bangladesh are Bengalis — part of the larger Bengali population in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and elsewhere. Most Bangladesh Bengalis are Sunni Muslims (whereas in West Bengal the majority are Hindus). According to the 1981 census, Muslims comprise 86.6 per cent of the population, Hindus 12.1 per cent, and others 1.2 per cent. Many experts contest these figures, maintaining that the proportion of non-Muslims could be as high as 25 per cent. The "other" religious minorities comprise of Christians, Buddhists or animists; many are also ethnic tribal minorities.

Though Bangladesh began in 1971 as a secular state, Islam was made the state religion by constitutional amendment in 1988. Other religions are, however, recognised by provisions in the constitution. Despite the Constitution´s acceptance of the principle of non-discrimination, many activists allege indirect discrimination as well as direct persecution of those outside the "Bangladeshi mainstream". The late 1980s saw increased fundamentalist agitation directed against Hindus and other religious minorities. Using the recent Babri-Masjid and Ram Mandir controversy in India, the communal repression and violence in Bangladesh has assumed a deadly new dimension. Feelings of anxiety and insecurity have increased.