Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caritas Asia
Dhaka (Agenzia Fides) – “The elections are approaching, but there is not much enthusiasm in Bangladeshi society for the country’s future,” said Subroto Boniface Gomes, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Dhaka, during an interview with Fides on the eve of the general elections scheduled for February 12. The interim government of Mohamed Yunus called the elections after a period of political transition, following the protests in August 2014 that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to leave the country.
Alongside the parliamentary elections, a constitutional referendum will also be held in which the population will be asked to approve amendments to the Constitution. Bishop Gomes points out: “The problem is that the vote will not be inclusive, since the Awami League, the former prime minister’s party, has been outlawed and has been unable to present its own lists of candidates. This has generated widespread discontent among the population and also a feeling of injustice.” “Furthermore,” he adds, “the population has not fully understood, and is not aware of the effects and consequences of the constitutional referendum: a broader and more detailed explanation would have been necessary.” If the referendum results in a “yes” vote, that is, a victory for those who support the reform, the new Parliament will act as a Constituent Assembly and, for the first 180 days, will be dedicated to approving amendments to the Constitution. Other factors to consider, the bishop observes, are “the presence of the student party that led the protests, new to the political scene,” as well as “the general resurgence of Islamist parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, which have resurfaced with their political agenda, undoubtedly detrimental to minorities such as women, tribal groups, and Hindu and Christian religious communities.”
“The student party,” he continues, “initially declared itself staunchly democratic, but later forged alliances in several constituencies with representatives of Jamaat-e-Islami, which is cause for concern.” Furthermore, he adds, “the student party has received the endorsement of Prime Minister Yunus, who could potentially aspire to become president of the country in the future,” also thanks to the direct or indirect support of Islamist parties.
In this context, in a country with a large Muslim majority, where the 500,000 Catholics represent a small minority—0.3% of the approximately 180 million inhabitants—the situation of Christian communities “remains very delicate: the resurgence of Islamist parties could create difficulties for us; therefore, in the last two years we have always defended the need to preserve pluralism and democracy,” emphasizes Bishop Subroto Gomes.
“The Catholic Church,” concludes the auxiliary bishop, “does not participate directly in political activity, but has publicly stated, at all levels, that it promotes the dignity and freedom of every person, human rights and good governance, as well as values such as the common good, fraternity, justice, and peace for all citizens, without discrimination based on culture, ethnicity, or religion.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 3/2/2026)
