ABSTRACT
This chapter examines contemporary Islamist attacks on secular bloggers in Bangladesh. It argues that while the actual number of attacks and murders is proportionally small, the violence reflects the ongoing debates about secularism and Islam in a polarised society. Furthermore, the issue is not just ideological, as it has been compounded by factors such as weak governance, hostile political relations and authoritarian rule. While exploring how religion has been incorporated or excluded from the government, the chapter examines Islamist violence against secular bloggers with attention to the victims, perpetrators and circumstances since 2015. It concludes by highlighting the tension between a claimed secular state and officially Islamic country, and how a multitude of economic, social and political issues compound the problems.
