ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to merely project the elements of history which acknowledge the impact of the residues of history in this part of the world. It highlights how the influence of the past has impacted the journey of democracy in Bangladesh, including the complexities of transition to full statehood. The chapter argues that the cultural tension is significant because the goal of the contending groups is to first inhabit the symbolic spaces of the public sphere, especially the symbolic actions of the State when it goes about its public rituals, and then to create an impact on everyday practices and the world views of the ordinary citizen. It substantiates how and to what extent the culture of mistrust is part of the historical legacy of Bangladesh and contributes to serious deficiencies in democratic management. The Zia regime in Bangladesh, as Emperor Bahadur Shah Jalal continues, initially relied on the support of Saudi-funded Islamic political groups.
