Transnational connections and religious change: How UK Bangladesh diaspora networks shape religious practices in Sylhet

In an increasingly interconnected global landscape, diaspora communities maintain complex transnational ties with their homelands, influencing local religious practices and institutions. This study examines how UK-Bangladesh diaspora connections shape religious identity formation and social practices in Bangladesh’s Sylhet region. Using a mixed-methods approach combining surveys (n = 400), focus group discussions (n = 10), and key informant interviews (n = 17) conducted from August 2018 to February 2020, the research investigated how transnational family relationships, remittances, and digital technologies influence religious development in the region. Findings reveal that global digital platforms have become primary drivers of religious change, with 68.5 % of respondents identifying social media as the main influence on local religious practices. Transnational family connections significantly shaped local religious perspectives, with 81.8 % of respondents reporting high trust in UK-residing relatives’ religious knowledge. Global financial flows play a crucial role, with approximately 40 % of remittances supporting religious institutions, highlighting the economic dimensions of transnational religious ties. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant associations between UK family influence (β = 0.28), remittance reception (β = 0.24), and social media use (β = 0.22) with perceptions of increased religiosity. The study reveals how these transnational connections often promote more conservative religious interpretations rather than secular values, challenging linear narratives of globalization leading to secularization. These findings contribute to transnational migration scholarship by documenting the specific mechanisms through which diaspora communities influence religious practices in their regions of origin, offering important insights for understanding religious identity formation in an increasingly connected world.