More than 85 percent of the population follows the religion of Islam, which was made the state religion by a 1988 constitutional amendment. The arrival of a handful of Muslims in Bengal at the beginning of the 13th century and the rapid expansion of their rule permanently changed the character and culture of the area. When the Muslims first arrived, the Hindus were in an overwhelming majority, but there were also Buddhists and a few animists. The Hindus remained in the majority throughout the Turko-Afgan and Mughal periods. Even as late as 1872 there were in Bengal more than 18 million Hindus, compared with about 16 million Muslims. From the 1890s onward, however, the balance began to shift in favour of the Muslims.
There are several reasons for the increase in the proportion of the Muslim population. Perhaps the most significant was the activity of ascetic divines and Sufis(Arabic: “Mystics”), who won converts among lower-caste Hindus. Other reasons include an influx of Muslims from northern India birth rate among Muslims.
Most Muslims belong to the Sunni sect, but there are a small number of Shi’ite Muslims, mostly descendants of immigrants from Iran. Hindus, who constitute about 10 percent of the population, are divided into scheduled(low) and nonscheduled castes. Members of the nonscheduled castes constitute about half of all Hindus in Bangladesh. Buddhists from less than 1 percent of the population. The Kuki, Khomoi (kumi), and some of the Mro are animists. While most of the Lushai are Cristians, the Tripura are Hindus.
There are several reasons for the increase in the proportion of the Muslim population. Perhaps the most significant was the activity of ascetic divines and Sufis(Arabic: “Mystics”), who won converts among lower-caste Hindus. Other reasons include an influx of Muslims from northern India birth rate among Muslims.
Most Muslims belong to the Sunni sect, but there are a small number of Shi’ite Muslims, mostly descendants of immigrants from Iran. Hindus, who constitute about 10 percent of the population, are divided into scheduled(low) and nonscheduled castes. Members of the nonscheduled castes constitute about half of all Hindus in Bangladesh. Buddhists from less than 1 percent of the population. The Kuki, Khomoi (kumi), and some of the Mro are animists. While most of the Lushai are Cristians, the Tripura are Hindus.