The wild wild East of BNP-Jamaat

September 22, 2011

On September 19, 2011, the radical Jamaat-Shibir appeared on the peaceful streets of Dhaka and Chittagong to terrorize public security and vandalize public property. These so-called Islamic fundamentalists burnt and ransacked property worth Tk 10 million. Their agenda: stop the War Criminals' Trials of the top Jamaat leaders who stand accused of being collaborators or for their direct role in the killings and lootings during the 1971 war of freedom. The armed extremist followers of these accused came out on the streets and tried to show their muscle in the face of ongoing trials. There can be no doubt that Jamaat-Shibir activists are in contempt of court for challenging the writ of higher judiciary. And the judiciary would be within its rights to take suo-moto action against these neo-Nazis of Bangladesh who feel NO guilt for their leaders' brutality in '71. After all, there is no statute of limitation on human conscience.

Senior Jamaat leaders were also involved in the 21st August grenade attack on Awami League rally, and their role as mentors of militancy in Bangladesh is an open secret. Top Jamaat leader Nijami even supported militancy on camera when he denied the existence of Bangla Bhai and accused the media of creating the boogey of this executed militant. It is also a matter of record that most of high-level militants arrested during operations confessed to their Jamaat links; their confessions offer substantial evidence that almost all banned militant outfits, like Harkatul Jihad BD, Jamayetul Mujahedeen BD and Hizbut Tehrir, were produced from the radical factory of Jamaat-Shibir.

Jamaat-e-Islami is operating on the open agenda that it wants to destroy the secular fabrics of democracy and replace it with Shariah through a militant uprise. The BNP-Jamaat coalition government (2001-06) offered militancy a safe haven in Bangladesh. It even tried to create links between Islamic radicals and separatist groups of North-East India. Some coalition leaders were also allegedly involved in offering a weapons transit to ULFA.

BNP continues its strong support to Jamaat by calling for an unruly strike on Sept 22 against the Awami League which came into power one of the promises of war criminals' trials. The radical duo also appears quite infuriated at the recent peaceful advances between Dhaka and New Delhi: Harkatul Jihad bombed Delhi High Court when the Indian Prime Minister was visiting Dhaka earlier this month, while ULFA continues to get support from this very outfit in its fight against the Indian government. The doctrine that 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' is apparently the connection between all terror groups of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

It is about time that Jamaat be banned as a political party in Bangladesh. Its attempt to hold the capital hostage on Sept 19 should not go unpunished. BNP strikes should also be tackled firmly so that the country does not sink into chaos. Bangladeshis have long been victims of political violence and hartals. The BNP-Jamaat anarchism to obtain power should no longer be allowed to continue. BNP should especially understand that it has lost public faith for its conspiratory marriage with Jamaat and for giving BNP leader Tareq Rahman a free hand to mentor militants in the name of jihad. Also, the party's stand against war criminal trials rightly raises the question: is BNP against providing justice and closure to the 30 lakh Bengalis killed and 4 lakh women tortured in '71?

The performance of BNP-Jamaat government during its 2001-06 tenure offers no excuse or reason for the duo to ask Awami League to step down for its failure in running public office. Democracy requires that the mandate of the people of Bangladesh be respected and disagreements be channeled through parliament, media and social platforms. Voters have chosen BNP as the opposition party to keep an eye on government performance and voice concerns in parliamentary sessions. This wild wild east terrorism in the name of politics carries no mass appeal what so ever. Following the letter of law, strikes should be banned to safeguard public security and economy. BNP should wait for next elections.

Tags: BNP, Jamaat, politics

18 Responses to The wild wild East of BNP-Jamaat

Khondkar A saleque on September 23, 2011 at 6:41 am

That avalanche of Jamat -Sibir was nothing unexpected . The snakes have grown venom and are waiting on the wings for a while to bite and unleash . BNP-Jamat are not in state power .It is all Mahajote Government. Why government agencies and intelligence could not prempt such massive plot ? It is a definite intelligence failure . Why police was not alert ? With trial of war crimianls in advanced stage it is very much expected that criminals will make desperate bid to destabilize the country. Police and intelligence must have planted agents of anti liberation force who are involved in internecine activities. Who will now account for the damages done ? BNP knows that trail of war criminals , terrorists and money launderers will progressively diminsh their chances of returning to power .BNP as a praty will start disintegrating .Hence it will go all out using all its ill gotten money and terrorist links to destabilize the country. Government must not give addional waepons to opposition to create nuisance . " Kill the Snakes at the first opportunity " .
Khurshed Anwar on September 23, 2011 at 8:20 pm

If someone doesn't now the history of our War of Independence in 1971 then I would request him or her to watch the movie "GUERILLA". It has vividly portrayed for the first time in 40 years the genocide perpetrated by the savage Pakistani army and their local collaborators the Islamic fascist fundamentalists Jamaat-e-Islami dogs. While the Pakistani army killed with guns the Jamaati bastards slaughtered people with sharp knives and raped millions of women at the instruction of war criminals Golam Azam, Nizami, Sayeedi and many others.

These war criinals must be tried and executed by firing squads for crimes against humanity. Only then our War of Independence will finally be over.

With the Arab world disintegrating and Saudi money flowing into Jamaat's terrorist funds coming to a stop it is time to defang this venomous cobra once and for all. The Pakistani ISI, Saudi Arabia and terrorist states like Libya had funded terrorists and assassins of Bangabandhu since 1975.

This monster must be killed before it strikes again. The terrorists had attacked Bangladesh police with gas grenades (brought into the country through illegal weapons trade in the black market) and wanted to inflict casualty on law enforcing agencies. The Jamaat-e-Islami was directly involved along with Khaleda`s son Tareq in the assassination plot in the August 21 Arges grenade attack and were also supplying arms to terrorists in India. These killer Jamaatis are a constant threat to global peace. The Jamaat-e-Islami of Bangladesh should be singled out as a global terrorist organisation trying to export terrorism abroad. All their bank accounts should be frozen. They bring in money from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan into accounts opened for charity and healthcare projects which are actualy meant for raising assassins and terrorists in Jamaat madrassahs just like Pakistan. Their recruits are mostly poor people who are brainwashed into believing that West is the biggest satan. The US and UK should also keep the members of these killer missions living abroad on surveillance as they may resort to any sort of terrorist acts.
Send Gift to Bangladesh on September 24, 2011 at 6:33 pm

Obviously Jamat should get ban immediately, they are playing with Islam
Khondkar A saleque on September 24, 2011 at 9:12 pm

That avalanche of Jamat -Sibir was nothing unexpected . The snakes have grown venom and are waiting on the wings for a while to bite and unleash . BNP-Jamat are not in state power now.It is all Mahajote Government. Why government agencies and intelligence gencies could not prempt such massive plot ? It is a definite intelligence failure . Why police was not alert ? With trial of war crimianls in advanced stage it is very much expected that criminals will make desperate bid to destabilize the country. Police and intelligence may have planted agents of anti liberation force who are involved in internecine activities. Who will now account for the damages done ? BNP knows that trial of war criminals , terrorists and money launderers will progressively diminsh their chances of returning to state power .BNP as a party will start disintegrating .Hence it will go all out using all its ill gotten money and terrorist links to destabilize the country. Government must not give addional weapons to opposition to create nuisance . " Kill the Snakes at the first opportunity " .
Wohab on September 27, 2011 at 12:13 pm

Maskwaith Bhai,
I am Setu ex-president of DUDS writing from Australia.

I like your writing and arguments made from different perspectives. However, i just would like to ask you to clarify about 'Radical Jammat-Sibir' a bit more from academic perspective. As far as i know that there is a clear differences between radical islamic movements and islamic political movements. Harkatul jihad (Bangladesh)or Laskar e tayeba (Pakistan) believes the radical islamic movement and jammat the islamic political movement. Please explain me more about it. If you need further reference regarding this debate i would provide them. Thanks anyway.
Maskwaith Ahsan on September 27, 2011 at 7:07 pm

There is definitely a difference between radical Islamic movements and Islamic political movements, but there are a few points to understand. First, especially in the case of the Sub-continent almost all radical religious movements have stemmed from Religious political movements, Harkatul Jihad from Jamaat in Bangaldesh, RSS from BJP in India, and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba from Jamaat-e-Islami insppired thoughts in Pakistan, etc. Secondly, like all struggling parties the Jammat relies through proxy on such radical groups which in fact help further the cause of Jamaat-type parties. Thirdly, the 19th Sept Jamaat-Shibir rally in Dhaka was supposed to be a peaceful one, but we saw Shibir cadres using gas grenades against the police. It clearly signifies that whether Jamaat likes it or not religious radicals consider Jamaat-e-Islami their political reflection. Moreover Nijami's open support for Bangla Bhai is a clear evidence of such cemented links. Although one can argue that even political parties are known to have armed wings, but in the case of religious parties, sentiments are hightened due to religious beliefs, which lead to problems like intolerance. And intolerance in any society is one of the leading impediments to progress. One can argue and have political differnces with normal political parties but the moment you start arguing with religious groups, even Jamaat, you run the risk of being declared anti-Islamic or worse heretic. Such intolerance runs quite contrary to Islamic beliefs and values.
Wohab on September 29, 2011 at 12:10 pm

Your arguments are absolutely right and this radical Islamic movement derived from Islamic political movement over the times. But my point is that post 9/11 the entire Islamic political movements have been clearly divided into two paradigms in whole world. One group is Islamic political party which is legitimized by democratic political process and other group is radical Islamic movements which are not accepted by the legitimized body yet. But the Islamic political movements currently are changing not only in Bangladesh but also in Muslim majority countries. E.g., Muslim Brotherhood once was classified as terrorist organization but now they are compatible with democratic process and post modern ideologies and the similar process is going on in Bangladesh. Jamaat e islami is on the process of reformation and they are going to be compatible with democratic process and post modern ideology for the sack of their existence in Bangladesh. But if you look at the Pakistan politics, most of the Islamic political parties have not been able to reform their political ideologies yet and I believe they would not be able to bring political stability there until they practice democracy inside their own political parties.
Maskwaith Ahsan on September 29, 2011 at 3:17 pm

I understand what you mean, but I don't agree with it, because, one, Islam does not subscribe to democracy. Islam calls for a Shariah-based system of governance, with a 'super-structure' that is somewhat similar to the system practiced in Iran or China. The religious political parties basically want to have their cake and eat it too. And by doing so they are creating confusion in the minds of ordinary, simple Muslims. They need to be clear: if they want democracy they need to drop the garb of religion, and if they want Shariah they need to clearly say it and launch it through a people's movement. Another thing is that the Quran clearly forbids any course of action or activity that divides or is divisive in nature, so by doing politics such religious parties are actually going against the very spirit of Islam. Here you have to understand two things. One, the basic purpose of politics is to be placed in a position to help administer a society, and second, politics by its inherent nature is divisive, so it's un-Islamic. For a more in-depth understanding you can consult a serious religious scholar but please avoid half-read maulvis. If religious political parties want power to help run the administration of a society, why do they need to take the route of religion? Another point is that NO religious political party in the Muslim world has a manifesto that focuses on the day-to-day administrative issues of the people. All they ever talk about is how West is the enemy and how people should wear clothes, what & how they should eat and breathe. Also, democracy is a system of governance that came up after the French renaissance. So isn't it western too.
Sheikh Zia on October 1, 2011 at 6:43 am

@Maskwaith, You said- " They need to be clear: if they want democracy they need to drop the garb of religion, and if they want Shariah they need to clearly say it and launch it through a people's movement. Another thing is that the Quran clearly forbids any course of action or activity that divides or is divisive in nature, so by doing politics such religious parties are actually going against the very spirit of Islam."

There are many democratic countries where Christian Democratic Party ( Germany, Italy, Australia….)exists and do participate in democratic processes, similarly Islamic Democracy is also not unheard of, e.g.Malayasia. This is what Wikipedia says about Islamic Democracy – " Islamic democracy refers to two kinds of democratic states that can be recognized in the Islamic countries. The basis of this distinction has to do with how comprehensively Islam is incorporated into the affairs of the state.[1]

1.A democratic state which recognizes Islam as state religion, such as Malaysia, Algeria, or Maldives are examples of Islamic Democracy. Some religious values are incorporated into public life, but Islam is not the only source of law.
2.A "democratic" state which endeavours to institute Sharia. It is also called as Islamist democracy.[1] Islamist democracy offers more comprehensive inclusion of Islam into the affairs of the state. States like Pakistan are firm proponents of this form."

Islam is our State Religion. Please shed some light in view of your comments and observations made above.
Maskwaith Ahsan on October 1, 2011 at 5:53 pm

Europe suffered a dark age when the church was the ruler by proxy. Renaissance saw the church being separated from the state. That's when Europe saw phenomenal development. Religious political parties currently functional in the west carry religious titles in name only. In reality most of such successful parties are secular. No such party has ever advocated violence and sectarianism in the name of religion. Having spent 5 years in Germany I can vouch for that. Parties like the Christian Democrats operate on solid developmental manifestoes. So, their situation cannot be compared to us. And if you at all want to compare, then you must be ready to compare fairly, not emotionally. In academics one can't pick and choose. Either the western system is good or it's bad. When you make a reference to them, I assume you consider them good. In that case one needs to go about in a thoroughly scholarly manner. Now, as for states like Malaysia and Indonesia, these countries are Muslim-majority areas and hence recognize Islam as the state religion, but their constitutions are completely secular. Also, these countries have seen amazing periods of development during non-religious dictatorial rules. And, Pakistan, unfortunately, falls in neither criteria. It's going through violent, unstable times, for the only reason that it hasn't been able to decide what it wants or where it wants to go. Take the example of the recent court verdict which gave a death sentence to the killer of a provincial governor. The killer confessed on media and in court to the killing, which took place in broad daylight. Huge demonstrations were and are being held in favour of the killer, only because he killed in the name the highly controversial blasphemy law. It is a law which is not enforced even in Saudi Arabia, and even Saudi media heavily criticizes this law. So, in my opinion Pakistan cannot be cited as an example.
Sheikh Zia on October 1, 2011 at 6:24 pm

@Maskwaith, when I said " Islam is our State Religion. Please shed some light in view of your comments and observations made above" – I in fact wanted your views on Bangladesh. In particular in light of your comment " They need to be clear: if they want democracy they need to drop the garb of religion " and our "state religion". Sorry If I was not clear enough.
Javed Harun and Debalak Singho on October 4, 2011 at 8:28 pm

We must go back to the 1972 secular constitution. I am reminded again and again of the poster brought out in 1971 which said that we are all Bengalis whether we are Christians, Buddhists,Hindus or Muslims. We all fought together to liberate this land.That was the spirit of the war of independence. Religion was never an issue.

Religion has been made an issue since 1975.The purpose was to poison Bangladesh with the Islamic fascists who were collaborators. Polluting statecraft with religion resulted in endless bloodshed and killing.

The grenade blasts to wipe out the AL top brass and the smuggling of ten trucks of illegal weapons by the BNP-Jamaat Islamic fundamentalist were just the tip of the iceberg.

If the BNP-Jamaat axis of evil succeeded in winning the elections with their appointed CTG Bangladesh`s talibanization and pakistanization would have been complete by now.
Wohab on October 5, 2011 at 11:45 am

@Maskwaith Vi, I am right in my points specially from academic perspectives and you are also right from activist perspectives. The million dollar questions is that we should not be needed post-modern ideologies if i support your arguments as modernization was very good for the development the entire world. But when people started thinking about their own identity, community believe then plurality comes and the development discourse has been changed. The same development discourse has happened in political development in every countries. If you think about Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia or Malaysia they are developing their own political culture considering their own socio-cultural ideology and this is the moto of post modern development. That is why i made my comments all islamic political parties are on the way to compatible with democratic process but not radical Islamic movements.
There is a bigger chance of Muslim brotherhood to come into the Egypt power in next general election following western democratic process, do you believe it? So this is how islamic political parties will change their political activities to compatible with democracy for their own existence in the world.
Sheikh Zia on October 5, 2011 at 3:32 pm

"We must go back to the 1972 secular constitution." – What's stopping us ?
Sheikh Zia on October 6, 2011 at 3:00 pm

"We must go back to the 1972 secular constitution."- What's stopping us ?
Mustafa on October 18, 2011 at 7:21 pm

The most corrupt woman on earth calling the government corrupt. She is making a mockery of herself. This woman is not only corrupt financially. She is also morally and ethically corrupt to the core.

Her sons are international money launderers and terrorists. They wanted to turn Bangladesh into a failed Islamic fundamentalist state.

As a sequel to Khaleda Zia and Tareq Rahman's liking for the war criminals and murderers of the 1971 war of independence she has demanded the release of killers Nizami, Mujahid and other traitors. Shame on this despicable dirty woman. I don't know how she feels comfortable in the presence of those stinky killer bastards! Doesn't she smell the stench of the corpses in the midst of her Jamaat-e-Islami escorts?
Mustafa on October 18, 2011 at 7:25 pm

The most corrupt woman on earth calling the government corrupt. She is making a mockery of herself. This woman is not only corrupt financially. She is also morally and ethically corrupt to the core.

Her sons are international money launderers and terrorists. They wanted to turn Bangladesh into a failed Islamic fundamentalist state.

As a sequel to Khaleda Zia and Tareq Rahman's liking for the war criminals and murderers of the 1971 war of independence she has demanded the release of killers Nizami, Mujahid and other traitors. Shame on this despicable dirty woman. I don't know how she feels comfortable in the presence of those stinky bastards! Doesn't she smell the stench of the corpses in the midst of Jamaat-e-Islami escorts who in reality now own BNP?
Zaber on October 19, 2011 at 3:22 pm

In most of the roadshows the majority are Jamaat-e-Islami cadres. BNP hardly has any voice in the Islamic fundamentalist dominated jote. Khaleda Zia is a hypocrite. What freedom struggle is she hinting at with Jamaat-e-Islami hyenas surrounding her wherever she goes. Internal feud in BNP's Rajshahi followers did not allow Jamaat to let her address a rally there in Rajshahi city.

Her hypocrisy is revealed in her statements against India labelled as the aggressor during the 'roadshows' while she did not have the slightest shame in meeting the Indian PM at Ruposhi Bangla during his visit to Bangladesh. She is also preparing for a visit to India.