According to official figures, about 98 per cent of the 110 million people of Bangladesh are Bengalis — part of the larger Bengali population in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and elsewhere. Most Bangladesh Bengalis are Sunni Muslims (whereas in West Bengal the majority are Hindus). According to the 1981 census, Muslims comprise 86.6 per cent of the population, Hindus 12.1 per cent, and others 1.2 per cent. Many experts contest these figures, maintaining that the proportion of non-Muslims could be as high as 25 per cent. The "other" religious minorities comprise of Christians, Buddhists or animists; many are also ethnic tribal minorities.
Though Bangladesh began in 1971 as a secular state, Islam was made the state religion by constitutional amendment in 1988. Other religions are, however, recognised by provisions in the constitution. Despite the Constitution´s acceptance of the principle of non-discrimination, many activists allege indirect discrimination as well as direct persecution of those outside the "Bangladeshi mainstream". The late 1980s saw increased fundamentalist agitation directed against Hindus and other religious minorities. Using the recent Babri-Masjid and Ram Mandir controversy in India, the communal repression and violence in Bangladesh has assumed a deadly new dimension. Feelings of anxiety and insecurity have increased.
The Hindus are the largest religious minority. They used to make up a considerably larger proportion of the population, but many left during Partition in 1947, arid still more after Independence in 1971. Most Hindus are Bengalis by ethnic origin and language, although some tribal groups also follow beliefs and customs which have 50^; affinity of Hinduism.
During Partition, there was a mass migration between India and Pakistan. Of the 1.3 million who moved from India into what was then East Pakistan, about one million were the Muslims from Bihar. These came to be known collectively as "Biharis" — Urdu speakers who are also Sunni Muslims like the Bengali population. Because they were seen to be favoured by the West Pakistani authorities in professional and administrative work, Biharis became increasingly unpopular among Bengalis and came to be seen as symbols of West Pakistani domination.