Abstract: Bangladesh, the world’s third largest Muslim majority nation, is facing challenges from violent Islamist groups. The government is cracking down on radical groupsand emphasizing the democratic principles of the country’s founding, but radical Islamism still threatens to undermine stability in Bangladesh. Radicalization and terrorism are directly linked to government corruption and a lack of trust in the representative political process. To build trust in the political process, Bangladesh needs to strengthen its democratic institutions and develop a culture of transparency in the government that fosters accountability and restrains corruption.