page_title: Religion in Bangladesh
section_title: Hinduism
hierarchical_section_title: Religion in Bangladesh / Hinduism
caption_attribution_description: বাংলা: ঢাকা শহরের ঢাকেশ্বরী মন্দির এ দূর্গা পূজা উদযাপন। উৎস: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bdgamer/52476611/ Credits: Photo taken by Rajiv Ashrafi (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bdgamer and BDGamer http://www.bdgamers.net). Used with permission of author. For details of the permission email, see User:Ragib/photopermissions#Rajiv_Ashrafi. Category:ঢাকা
context_page_description: Islam is the state religion of Bangladesh by article 2A of the constitution, however secularism is one of the four fundamental principles according to the original 1972 Constitution of "People Republic of Bangladesh". The constitution further states that "the State shall ensure equal status and equal right in the practice of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and other religions". Bangladesh is one of the few secular Muslim-majority nation.
  As per 2011 census Muslims constitute over 90% of the population, while Hindus constitute 8.5% and remaining rest constitute 1%. A survey in late 2003 confirmed that religion is the first choice by a citizen for self-identification. The Constitution denominates Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism.
context_section_description: Hinduism is the second largest religious affiliation in Bangladesh, with around 14 million people identifying themselves as Hindus and making up about 8.5% of the total population according to the 2011 census, down from 9.2 per cent as of the 2001 census. According to an estimate from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), there were 17 million Hindus in Bangladesh as of 2015. In terms of population, Bangladesh is the third largest Hindu populated country of the world, just after India and Nepal.
  Bangladeshi Hindus are predominantly Bengali Hindus, but a distinct Hindu population also exists among the indigenous tribes like Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Santhal, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Tripuri, Munda, Oraon, Dhanuk etc.
  Hindus are evenly distributed throughout all regions of Bangladesh, with significant concentrations in northern, southwestern and northeastern parts of the country. In nature, Bangladeshi Hinduism closely resembles the rituals and customs of Hinduism practised in the neighbouring Indian state of West Bengal, with which Bangladesh (at one time known as East Bengal) was united until the partition of India in 1947. Hindu festivals of Durga Puja, Rath Yatra and Janmashtami witness jubilant celebrations across various cities, towns and villages of Bangladesh.
caption: Durga Puja celebrations in Dhakeshwari Temple, Dhaka
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