Religion or linguistic heritage? Bangladesh is at a crossroads over its national identity

Memory plays a central role in shaping nationalism, particularly in post-colonial states where historical trauma serves as a foundation for national identity. Bangladesh’s nationalism is deeply intertwined with the memory of the 1971 Liberation War, an event that marked its severance from Pakistan and the birth of an independent state.

However, more than five decades after liberation, a generational shift has led to a growing rejection of the very spirit that once united the nation. The student movement in July-August 2024 brought to the surface a recurring debate: are Bangladeshis primarily Bengalis, or does their Muslim identity take precedence?

There is no doubt that while memory shaped Bangladeshi nationalism, certain segments of society moved away from the Liberation War narrative, causing tensions between Bengali cultural identity and Islamic identity to continue to evolve.

Scholars have long emphasised the role of memory in nationalism. Benedict Anderson introduced the idea of nations as “imagined communities”, constructed through shared memories, symbols and narratives.

For him, nationalism thrives when people feel a deep, emotional connection to a common past, even if they have never personally experienced it. Eric Hobsbawm argued that nationalism is often built on selective memory – some events are highlighted and celebrated, while others are forgotten or reinterpreted to fit a national narrative.

In Bangladesh, memory serves both as a unifying force and a...

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