Transforming Roles of Religious Leaders in Interfaith Dialogue and Conflict Resolution in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a religiously diverse society where faith remains deeply embedded in everyday social life. At the community level, religious leaders continue to hold moral influence and are often trusted figures in times of tension and conflict. This article examines two interconnected roles of religious leaders in Bangladesh: interfaith dialogue and local conflict resolution. Based on qualitative interviews with 30 religious leaders from different regions, the article explores how religious leaders mediate disputes, ease communal tensions and promote social harmony in contexts shaped by political competition, social inequality and religious diversity. The findings show that religious leaders act as informal peacebuilders, stepping in where formal institutions are weak or distrusted. Their mediation is grounded in cultural legitimacy and moral authority, which allows them to resolve conflicts in ways that are locally accepted. However, their role is increasingly under pressure. Politicisation, security threats, unequal power relations and the growing impact of digital media are limiting the independence and effectiveness of religious leaders, pushing them to the margins of the conflict management process.