A/HRC/31/18/Add.2 IX. Conclusions and recommendations 101. Interreligious coexistence and societal open-mindedness in Bangladesh is traceable far back in history. The principle of secularism, as laid down in the 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh, provides a framework for accommodating religious and belief-related pluralism for everyone without discrimination. That commitment has been further confirmed through the ratification of international human rights conventions, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 102. In Bangladesh, secularism is mainly understood in an inclusive manner. Instead of pushing religious manifestations back into the private sphere, as it is in some other parts of the world, secularism in Bangladesh functions more like a space-providing principle, also within the public sphere. In this sense, secularism and democracy closely belong together, because democracy, too, presupposes and facilitates an inclusive public space for the unfolding of open debates. The adoption of certain restrictive legislative and administrative measures has led to a shrinking space for religious or political dissent and frank public discourse — even when they were enacted with the intention to defend secular democracy — and may thus inadvertently erode the very principles that the measures were supposed to protect. 103. The Special Rapporteur sensed much positive commitment among different stakeholders to maintain the harmonious interreligious coexistence, open-mindedness and secular democracy, particularly in the face of rising religious polarization. 104. The Special Rapporteur would like to make the following recommendations, addressed mainly to Government agencies: (a) The Government is encouraged to uphold its commitment to promoting the principle of secularism, as enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh. It should ensure that secularism is interpreted as a space-providing principle designed to accommodate religious diversity on the basis of the right to freedom of religion or belief for all. With such an inclusive understanding of secularism, Bangladesh may provide an important contribution to international debates, in contrast to other restrictive concepts of secularism that prevail in many parts of the world; (b) The Government is reminded that, when fighting the instrumentalization of religions, it should also refrain from using religion to achieve political goals; (c) The Government should double its effort in facilitating and encouraging interreligious and cross-boundary communication, in order to maintain peaceful coexistence and reduce possible suspicion and misunderstanding among different religious and belief communities; (d) The Government should be consistent in expressing its position against any acts of intolerance, discrimination and extremism. It should send messages of solidarity with religious minorities, including small groups, such as Ahmadis, on the basis of the understanding that, under freedom of religion or belief, everyone should be respected in their own religious self-definition; (e) The Government should protect the vibrant civil society and pluralistic society in Bangladesh by addressing the existing anxiety expressed by members of religious minorities and indigenous peoples who feel vulnerable in the face of rising religious extremism and acts of violence perpetrated against them; (f) When publicly condemning acts of violence, including killings, that target members of religious minorities, civil society activists and Internet 20