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Bangladesh

Indecision eats Hefazat-e-Islam and other Islamist parties

2014-01-25

[Dhaka Tribune] Hefazat-e-Islam is now wavering over declaring a fresh agitation programme to realise its 13-point demands when it could not stage any large demonstration in the last six months. Now they are considering new programmes which can connect the ordinary Mohammedans and avoid government harassment, said leaders of Hefazat and some other Islamist parties. For that, religious conferences including waz mahfils (sermons) have been their initial choice. Following the crackdown of law enforcers on the Hefazat supporters on May 5 last year, the Hathazari madrasa-based "non-political organization" called rallies in Dhaka more than three times. But the government did not allow them to gather in the capital. They could not even hold rallies in Chittagong areas. After May 5, Hefazat leaders and activists are facing many cases on charges of vandalism, arson and killing of police and general people. Most of the leaders and activists are now hiding to avoid arrest. Hefazat leaders said they were not clear about the possible plan of action at this moment. Sources said many of the Hefazat leaders -- who are also top leaders of the 18-party allies -- are communicating with the government high-ups for the release of its detained members and withdrawal of the cases against them. They are also pursuing the government to hold a programme in the capital. The Islamist parties, most of which are involved with Hefazat and the BNP-led 18-party alliance, are also uncertain about resuming the anti-government movement. Islami Oikya Jot (IOJ), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and Jamaat-e-Ulama-e-Islam are part of the 18-party alliance. Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon and Khelafat-e-Islami Bangladesh are not part of any alliance. Hefazat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari, who is also the vice-chairman of IOJ, yesterday told with Dhaka Tribune: "Now we are discontinuing our programmes. But it is a temporary situation. We will come up with new programmes soon." Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, an adviser of the Hefazat, yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that for the government's undemocratic activities, the country's political and also social groups, except for the ruling party, were unable to hold programmes. "For these reasons, now we have to rethink our programme strategies." Also secretary general of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Zafarullah said Hefazat and the Islamist parties would be organising "religious gatherings" on special days. The chairman of a faction of 18-party ally IOJ, Abdul Latif Nezami, also a Hefazat adviser, yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that the Hefazat had to temporarily stop its programmes because of the government's harassing its leaders and supporters.

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Bangladesh

Many speakers at Hefajat rally belong to opposition

2013-04-07

[Bangla Daily Star] Many of the speakers at the Hefajat-e Islam rally in the capital yesterday are big shots of the BNP-led 18-party alliance components. Some of them are the topmost leaders of the allied parties and they were seen organising the seven-hour gathering, although senior Hefajat leaders claimed it was a non-political event. Organisers told The Daily Star that as many as 70 leaders of the Hefajat and other Islamist parties yesterday addressed the meet, held within a radius of nearly 1.5km centring on the Shapla Chattar at Motijheel. Many of them belong to the Khelafat-e-Islam, Olama Committee and Farayezi Andolon, which together make up the Islami Oikya Jote ... a political party in Bangladesh. In the 2001 elections the party won 2 out of 300 elected members in an alliance with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. It has a focus on building an islamic state, and has used the madrassas to gain support... (IOJ), a major component of the 18-party alliance. Besides, several senior organisers belong to either the Khelafat Majlish or Nejame Islami Party, both components of the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance. Although the 18-party alliance claimed it only extended moral support to the Hefajat's long march followed by the rally, the IOJ and Khelafat Majlish were found to be key organisers of the programmes. Interestingly, it was seen that at least two prominent speakers who came down heavily on the government do not belong to the Hefajat. Of the two, Maulana Imran is president of the Islami Chhatra Khelafat, the student wing of the Khelafat-e-Islami, while Habibur Rahman is ameer of the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and is involved with a madrasa in Sylhet. The Hefajat-e Islam has been trying to label the Shahbagh bloggers as atheists in its efforts to turn the country's majority Moslems against them. The Shahbagh movement began on February 5 soon after Jamaat leader Quader Mollah received a rather lenient sentence -- life imprisonment -- for genocide and other crimes committed against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. It later spread to different parts of the country and even abroad, pressing for capital punishment to war criminals and their patron the Jamaat-e-Islam. At the rally yesterday, as Maulana Habibur Rahman's turn came as the speaker, a moderator identified him as ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish. Habibur Rahman, addressing the crowd said, "Moslems are ready to sacrifice their lives for serving Allah, Rasul and Koran. Are you ready to do that?" Most of those who moderated the meet are also involved either in Khelafat-e-Islam or Khelafat Majlish or Islami Oikya Jote. Zunaid Al Habib, one of the moderators, is the member-secretary of the Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... Dhaka City unit. He is also the nayeb-e-ameer of both Khelafat-e Islami and Islami Oikya Jote. Another moderator, Altaf Hossain, is student affairs secretary of the Khelafat-e-Islami. One of the moderators, Selimullah, joint secretary general of the Hefajat, at 12:56pm chanted an abusive slogan against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ...Bangla dynastic politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Bangla Awami League since 1981. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh. Her party defeated the BNP-led Four-Party Alliance in the 2008 parliamentary elections. She has once before held the office, from 1996 to 2001, when she was defeated in a landslide... while inviting a speaker to the podium. Before uttering the slogan, Selimullah, a teacher of a Jamaat-dominated madrasa in Chittagong, told the crowd that the government had suspended live telecast of the meeting on Diganta, Bangla Vision and nTV. Amid a roar from hundreds of thousands in the audience, Selimullah then uttered the slogan twice: "Sheikh Hasinar dui gale, juta maro tale tale." Many in the audience held their sandals high in the air and kept chanting the slogan. Zunaid Babunogori, secretary general of Hefajat, however, around 1:00pm announced that they were "withdrawing and rejecting" the slogan against the prime minister, terming it "anti-liberation". Maulana Foyezullah, Hefajat's joint secretary general who read out the 13-point demand at the rally, is also secretary general of IOJ. Abdul Latif Nejami is the chairman of the Islami Oikya Jote. Also chairman of the Nejame Islami Party, he called upon the gathering to wage a tough movement to oust the present administration. Khelafat Majlish Ameer Mohammad Ishak is another top leader in the BNP-led alliance. He spoke prominently at the meeting labelling the government as an anti-Islam element. Shamsul Alam, Hefajat nayeb-e-ameer, holds the post of nayeb-e-ameer in both the Olama Committee and IOJ. Another Islami Oikya Jote leader Moinuddin Ruhi is the Hefajat's joint secretary general.

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Bangladesh

Organiser of Hefajat long march Habibur working for an Afghan-style Bangladesh

2013-04-07

Because a Taliban-land with Bangladesh's little peculiarities would be even more fun than the original... [Bangla Daily Star] One of the key organisers of Hefajat-e Islam's Dhaka long march and the subsequent rally was Maulana Habibur Rahman, a madrasa principal of Sylhet with the background of working for "Taliban-style" rule in Bangladesh. Habibur was a speaker at yesterday's post-long-march rally of Hefajat. He was also sitting in the forefront along with top leaders during Hefajat's Thursday's presser at Lalbagh Madrasa in the capital. Habibur, principal of Kazi Bazar Madrasa in Sylhet city, also ameer (chief) of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and known as Bubuli Huzur in Sylhet, was a leader of the banned Islamist turban organization Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami (HuJI Founded in 1984 by Fazlur Rehman Khalil and Qari Saifullah Aktar. The Bangla branch was established in 1992 with assistance from Osama bin Laden. Recruits come mostly from Deobandi madrassahs. HuJI and Fazlur Rehman Khalil are signators of bin Laden's declaration of war on the west. ) Bangladesh and has links with international turban groups. Habibur himself revealed the link in an interview with a bulletin titled "Islami Biplob" (Islamic revolution), published on August 20, 1998, in Sylhet with the express purpose of celebrating "the total victory of Talibans and establishment of an Islamic state in Afghanistan". The HuJI Bangladesh top brass include Sheikhul Hadith Allama Azizul Haq (who passed away in August 2012), who was also chief of a faction of Islami Oikya Jote ... a political party in Bangladesh. In the 2001 elections the party won 2 out of 300 elected members in an alliance with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. It has a focus on building an islamic state, and has used the madrassas to gain support... , a former partner of the BNP-led alliance; Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish second-in-command (now chief) Muhammad Habibur Rahman of Sylhet; Ataur Rahman Khan of Kishoreganj; Sultan Jaok of Chittagong; Abdul Mannan of Faridpur; and Habibullah of Noakhali. All of them were involved in different Islamic organizations and madrasas. Ataur Rahman Khan was elected MP on a BNP ticket in 1991 from Kishoreganj-3 constituency. In an interview several years ago, Habibur disclosed the names of people with whom he had travelled to Afghanistan via Pakistain in 1988, visited some Taliban turban camps and also met al-Qaeda leader the late Osama bin Laden ... who is now sometimes referred to as Mister Bones... .

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Bangladesh

Jamaat turning religious sentiment against Shahbagh demonstration

2013-02-20

[Bangla Daily Star] With its back against the wall, Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... has resorted to a smear campaign against the Shahbagh youths, branding them as atheists, anti-Islamic and anti-social elements with the help of a few radical Islamist groups both in and outside the BNP-led 18-party alliance. Through advertisements, reports in certain newspapers and rallies, efforts were being made to confuse people about the motive of the young organisers by tweaking religious sentiment of the people, alleged law enforcers and bloggers yesterday. "All these are false and fabricated tales," announced Imran H Sarkar, convener of Blogger and Online Activists Network, last night on behalf of all protesters, who camped at Shahbagh for the 15th day with the demand for maximum punishment for the convicts in war crimes trial. As part of the smear campaign, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, a radical Islamist organization based in Hathazari, Chittagong, got published a half-page advertisement in three newspapers yesterday with anti-Islamic contents, claiming those were posted on the internet by different bloggers. It claimed that the Shahbagh movement was against Islam. Using such advertisements and reports in like-minded newspapers, the anti-liberation forces held protest rallies in Dhaka and Chittagong yesterday to counter the Shahbagh movement. In a statement in the afternoon, Jamaat-e-Islami said, "The main objective of the Shahbagh protesters is to root out Islam from the country. They are involved in different anti-social activities there." Meanwhile, ...back at the wine tasting, Greasy Thumb grabbed for his rod!... Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu said the government would not spare those who are hurting religious sentiments to create tension. According to the law, it is a punishable offence to create tension by publishing provocative advertisements. And the organizations involved in such activities would be closed down as Youtube was shut in Bangladesh following the Ramu violence, said the minister. "By spreading hate contents, they are dishonouring Prophet Muhammad [SM]," Inu said, adding that a meeting will be held today to decide on the issue. Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, a top leader of Islami Andolon Bangladesh said Jamaat-e-Islami that has drawn public outrage is engaging Qaumi Madrasa-based radical Islamist groups to counter the Shahbagh movement by portraying it anti-Islamic. They include Khelafat Majlish, Islami Oikya Jote ... a political party in Bangladesh. In the 2001 elections the party won 2 out of 300 elected members in an alliance with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. It has a focus on building an islamic state, and has used the madrassas to gain support... and Olama Mashayekh Parishad. The Shahbagh demonstrators yesterday strongly protested the advertisements and negative campaigns, and said the anti-liberation forces have chosen a path of hatred to demean Islam by using fake identities in the social media and shift the blame onto them. Imran H Sarkar, a key organiser of the protest, said some media houses are branding the Shahbagh movement as anti-Islami and spreading lies about slain blogger Rajib Haidar, one of the organisers of the movement. He said the Shahbagh protesters have nothing against any religion, as the movement is against the mass murderers of 1971. Immediately after Rajib's murder, the anti-liberation forces launched a negative campaign to brand Rajib as an atheist, claiming he had posted offensive and anti-Islami contents on the internet, said bloggers involved in the movement. While fingers are pointed at Jamaat-Shibir for the killing, the anti-liberation elements are trying hard to brand Rajib as an atheist to justify the murder and portray all Shahbagh protesters as anti-Islam. Rajib's family members strongly condemned the attempts to portray him as an atheist. Ali Haider Dewan, a relative of Rajib, said a conspiracy is being hatched to divert Rajib's killing to a different direction. As part of a conspiracy against Rajib, someone hacked into his blog and posted controversial elements after his murder, said Dewan. Meanwhile, ...back at the bunker, his Excellency called a hurried meeting of his closest advisors. It was to be his last. They discussed the officers's efficiency rating system... Shamsuzzaman Dudu, an adviser to the BNP chairperson, alleged that the government is carrying out anti-Islami activities in the name of demonstrations by engaging a section of youths. "These youths are being paid by the government to work as its agents," Dudu, also general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal, said at a discussion. In the capital, several hundred Jamaat activists under the banner of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish brought out a procession from the Baitul Mukarram Mosque chanting slogans that the Shahbagh youths are atheists. They circulated leaflets that said in the name of movement against war criminals, the youths are using Shahbagh for illegal activities and spreading anti-Islami ideas. Later, police swung into action and dispersed them. In Chittagong, a few hundred people under the banner of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon staged a demonstration in Hathazari upazila, demanding death penalty for "the bloggers who insulted Islam". Locals said some people under the banner of Islami Oikya Jote circulated leaflets that read, "Foil the conspiracy of Awami atheists in the name of the Shahbagh movement, and resist all such movements across the country". Meanwhile, ...back at the cheese factory, there was only one thought in the mouse's mind: I can do this! I can do this! Then the trap sprung... some people circulated a list of bloggers over mobile phones demanding death penalty for them.

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Bangladesh

N'ganj turns battle zone

2011-07-11

[Bangla Daily Star] Thousands of Islamist activists, armed with stones and sticks, blocked roads with burning tyres, damaged vehicles and clashed with police yesterday, virtually turning Kanchpur, Panchabati and Fatullah in Narayanganj into battle zones on the first day of the 30-hour countrywide hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... . An alliance of 12 Islamist parties is enforcing the shutdown to protest "restoration of secularism" in the constitution. Police responded with tear gas shells and rubber bullets as some of the rampaging activists attacked the law enforcers and snatched from them a pistol, a shotgun and a wireless set, and smashed those. The violence that flared in the busy industrial areas of Narayanganj district left over 120 people injured, including 17 coppers who were attacked by pro-hartal activists, police and witnesses said. The main opposition BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami are supporting the hartal protesting the recent constitutional amendment that restored secularism as a state principle and removed the phrase "Absolute Faith and Trust on the Almighty Allah." The protest came even though the constitution has retained Islam as the state religion and Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Barring these festivities, the hartal was largely ignored by people who went to work as usual. Traffic in the capital was near normal yesterday unlike the mostly empty streets seen during the 48-hour hartal enforced by BNP and Jamaat on July 6 and 7. The violence in Narayanganj was led by Islami Andolan Bangladesh ...a minor Islamist party which in the days of Bangla Bhai served as a recruiting agency for the JMB... (IAB). Its activists, most of them local madrasa students, began gathering in the areas since early morning. Many of them squatted on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway stranding many vehicles on both sides of Kanchpur bridge. The marauding activists also smashed many vehicles. Police picked up at least 228 activists mainly from IAB and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish from Fatullah and Kanchpur in Narayanganj, Dhaka city, Chittagong, Pabna and Patuakhali, the police headquarters said. In Fatullah, IAB activists, most of them local madrasa students, beat up 12 cops after confining them for about half an hour, snatched a shotgun, a pistol and damaged a wireless set from them. They also injured two TV cameramen. Police recovered the snatched the arms after four hours. At 7:15am, around 2,000 IAB activists who came from different local madrasas including Madaninagar Madrasa blocked Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Kanchpur and Panchabati with large sticks. They burned tyres and vandalised at least 17 vehicles. Police intervened when the activists went on rampage and started smashing vehicles indiscriminately. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells, and used batons to disperse the activists, witnesses said. At one stage, pro-Awami League motor vehicle workers and AL supporters also joined the law enforcers and attacked the IAB activists. In counter attacks, the IAB activists also severely beat up several cops including Additional Superintendent of Police of Narayanganj Saidur Rahman and snatched his wireless set. He was admitted to Square Hospital in the capital. Three other severely injured cops were later admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Traffic movement halted for about four hours on Dhaka-Chittagong highway and Dhaka-Sylhet highway. Commuters faced untold sufferings during the clash as many people were seen walking to reach the capital from Kanchpur and Fatullah. Also yesterday, mobile courts incarcerated and fined over 58 "picketers" across the country for disrupting peace. Police picked up 47 hartal supporters from the port city of Chittagong. In the capital, police picked up at least 25 people from Paltan, Lalbagh and Mirpur areas during the shutdown. In Narsingdi, Police jugged 33 local leaders and activists of IAB during the hartal hours. Meanwhile, ...back at the cheese factory, all the pieces finally fell together in Fluffy's mind... the police authorities have formed a three-member committee to investigate picketers' attack on police during yesterday's hartal hours in Fatulla of Narayanganj that left 15 coppers including an additional ASP injured. Narayanganj Superintendent of Police (SP) Sheikh Nazmul Alam told journalists the committee headed by Additional Superintendent of Special Branch of Police Giashuddin Ahmed has been asked to submit its report within three days. The probe body has to find out if police showed negligence in their duty during the incident, and the reasons behind the attack on the law enforcers, he added.

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Bangladesh

30hr hartal from today

2011-07-10

[Bangla Daily Star] The alliance of 12 religion-based political parties enforces a countrywide 30-hour hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... from 6:00am today with support from the BNP-led opposition. The alliance yesterday warned of enforcing hartal even in the month of Ramadan "if the government creates any obstacle to their 30-hour hartal". And the government said stern action will be taken if anyone tries to disrupt law and order. The 12-party combine led by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish called the shutdown in protest against what it was said dropping of the words "absolute faith in Allah" from the constitution. "We will launch tougher programmes during Ramadan if the government does not restore the "absolute faith in Allah" in the constitution," said Maulana Abdul Latif Nezami, secretary general of Islami Oikyo Jote, a component of the 12-party combine, at a presser at a city hotel. Meanwhile, ...back at the palazzo, Count Guido had escaped from his bonds and overwhelmed this guard using the bludgeon Filomena had smuggled to him in the loaf of bread... Dhaka Metropolitan Police in a blurb yesterday urged people to refrain from destructive activities like vandalism and setting fire to vehicles in the name of hartal, and warned of tough action against those involved in such activities. Our Barisal correspondent reports: Metropolitan Police yesterday charged baton and fired tear gas shells on pro-hartal processions in the city, leaving at least 20 people including a police constable injured. And police tossed in the slammer around 10 pro-hartal activists. Our Noakhali correspondent reports: Police foiled a procession in support of hartal here, and at least 25 people were maimed in the police baton charge. About 10 activists were tossed in the slammer. A report from our Munshiganj correspondent says: Six activists of Islami Andolon Bangladesh were tossed in the slammer from a pro-hartal procession in Mawa ferry ghat area yesterday evening.

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Bangladesh

Ulema urged to launch anti-govt agitation

2010-10-19

[Bangla Daily Star] Blaming the government for acting against Islam, Sammilito Olama-Mashayekh Parishad yesterday called on the Learned Elders of Islam to launch movement from mosques of the country. "Voice of protest should be raised from the mimbar [a pulpit in the mosque where the imam stands to deliver sermons] of every mosque to ward off the danger lurking above the country," said Maulana Muhiuddin Khan, president of the organisation at a discussion. The dialogue was organised at city's Jatiya Press Club auditorium protesting the "anti-Islamic moves by the government." The discussants alleged the ruling Awami League started acting against Islam since 1953 by dropping Mohammedan from its name. The government's ill efforts by means of restoring secularism to the constitution, destroying religious education through new education policy, restricting mandatory use of burkha (veil) and serving interest of a neighbouring country are damaging Islam, blamed the discussants. "We have to take to the street and be prepared for making highest sacrifice," said Maulana Muhiuddin, also the editor of monthly Madina, adding, "If necessary, we would tie shrouds in our forehead and bring out procession to sacrifice our lives." He also mentioned that the parishad would soon announce its anti-government programme and urged the Learned Elders of Islam to take mental preparation to make the programme a success. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mohammad Ishaq, Islami Oikya Jote Secretary General Maulana Abdul Latif Khan Nejami, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Maulana Abdus Sobhan and former BNP minister Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin also spoke, among others.

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Bangladesh

Khelafat leader Habibur held for militant 'link'

2007-05-17

The joint forces detained Moulana Habibur Rahman, nayeb-e-ameer of a faction of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, from his father-in-law's house at the city's Jherjheri para early yesterday. Habibur was arrested on charge of having links with the militant groups and he was shown arrested under the emergency power rules, a police official said. After his arrest at 1:10am, the law enforcers took him to the Sylhet Kotwali Police Station where officials quizzed him. "Mahmoud! This is a Number 6! I distinctly asked for a Number 7 truncheon!" "Sorry, Sahib! You broke the Number 7 on Akter Hossein! There's a new one on order!" "Well, drive a nail through the Number 6, then! We'll just have to make due." "Right, Sahib!" At about 1:00pm yesterday, Kotwali police produced Habibur before the Sylhet Sadar cognizance magistrate's court, wherefrom he was sent to the jail lock-up. In 1994, 'Sahaba Sainik Parishad' run by Habibur announced Tk 50,000 bounty on the head of writer Taslima Nasrin. On October 13 that year, the man with several hundred people put blockade in front of the deputy commissioner's office to press for hanging Taslima. Habibur once told about his experience of joining training programmes in Afghanistan. However, after the emergence of militant groups like JMB, he started denying his links with and support for Afghan wars. Moulana Habibur Rahman, who is also the principal of Jameya Madania Islamia at Kazirbazar, used his students against Afsar Uddin, a lessee of the adjacent Kazirbazar cattle market, to 'extend' the madrasa in 2005. Habibur also grabbed some valuable lands of the LGED at the city's Bagbari in 1992 for setting up a Nurani Madrasa. However, the district administration freed the government lands shortly afterwards. Habibur Rahman, who was an ally of the BNP-led alliance government, later shifted his political line and managed nomination of the Awami League-led combine for Sylhet-6 constituency (Golapganj and Beanibazar upazilas) ahead of the election scheduled for January (later cancelled). The matter fuelled agitation among the rank and file in the AL-led combine. Beany Bazaar. Really. We did not make that up.

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Bangladesh

Bangla: Awami League scraps fatwa deal with bigots

2007-02-13

Awami League (AL) yesterday cancelled the controversial five-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) over issuance of fatwas with Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (BKM). AL also cancelled all deals, agreements and seat sharing with different political parties in the grand alliance including 14-party coalition, which had been made prior to the cancellation of January 22 parliamentary polls. "We had made some deals and agreements with some parties as part of our election strategy centring the January 22 poll. Since the election was cancelled, those deals and agreements have automatically been cancelled," AL Acting General Secretary Obaidul Quader told The Daily Star yesterday. AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil signed the MoU going to the Azimpur residence of BKM Chairman Azizul Haque on December 23 last year, which stipulated that certified alems (Islamic clerics) would have the authority to issue fatwas in the country if the grand electoral alliance could come to power. "And how many alems are certifiable?" "Most of 'em." The other points of the MoU included promises to impose a bar on enacting any law that would go against Quranic values, initiation of steps for proper implementation of the government initiative to recognise the degrees awarded by Qaumi Madrasas, and a ban on criticisms of Prophet Muhammad. All the usual Islamo-hooey, from a putatively secular party. With AL signing the deal to bring BKM into the fold of the grand alliance, it faced severe criticisms from different national and international quarters and even from inside the party. The deal also gave rise to grievances and frustrations inside AL and other components of the grand alliance, and disappointed many other political parties, socio-cultural organisations and people of all walks of life. At the time the AL general secretary repeatedly criticised the media saying that they misinterpreted the deal and claiming that the deal was not against the concept of secularism. "No, no! Certainly not! Think of it as... ummm... Koranic secularism." Quader, who spoke as an AL spokesman yesterday, however said the political unity among the components of the grand alliance will continue. "But all the written deals or agreements and seat sharing with all the parties have been cancelled," said the AL leader adding that they will think afresh about signing deals or reaching agreements with the grand alliance partners in a new situation when a fresh schedule for the upcoming parliamentary polls will be announced. Asked whether they will sign the MoU again with BKM, the AL leader brushed aside the possibility and said they have not thought of it yet. As the election was cancelled, their strategies will change in the new situation, he said. Asked when the decision of cancelling the MoU was taken, Quader declined to comment. But sources said AL President Sheikh Hasina instructed Quader yesterday morning to issue a media statement about the cancellation of the MoU. Asked whether AL informed BKM about the cancellation of the deal, Quader said they [BKM leaders] would know about it from the media. When contacted, BKM Secretary General Yusuf Ashraf said they were not formally informed about the cancellation of the MoU. "We heard about it on television news and will give a formal reaction on the matter after discussing it in the party forum," said Ashraf. Following the cancellation of the deal, AL's allies in the grand alliance welcomed it. Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon told The Daily Star that they opposed the deal from the very beginning and repeatedly asked AL to cancel it saying it contradicts the 23-point common national minimum programme of 14-party coalition. "As Awami League has scrapped the deal, I welcome the decision," said Menon, also a key leader of 14-party. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu praised AL President Sheikh Hasina for cancelling the controversial deal with BKM. He said the AL chief took a strong political decision, which will strengthen the politics of establishing a democratic and non-communal country. "The decision was imperative to take 14-party coalition forward," Inu, also a key leader of the coalition told The Daily Star.

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Bangladesh

A busy week for the Rapid Action Batallion

2007-02-10

Book Fair Beatdown: The police Friday took the wife of a magistrate into custody following a brawl with a RAB member at the Bangla Academy Book Fair premises, reports UNB. The police said Hasina Momtaz had an altercation with RAB-2 member Zannat as she wanted to search Momtaz's handbag and body before entering into the book fair premises at about 11:30am. Momtaz got furious and started slapping Zannat. At that stage, other RAB members took both of them to the Shahbagh Police Station and filed a case against Momtaz in this connection. Mufti in Manacles: Mufti Shahidul Islam, senior Naeb-e-Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, surrendered to the members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Dhaka on Wednesday. Khelafat Majlish sources said, “Mufti Shahidul informed the RAB-2 of his wish to “surrender voluntarily”. The forces came to his Shyamoli residence on Wednesday noon and arrested him. Mufti Shahidul Islam, a probable MP candidate of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance from the constituency of Narail-2, is believed to be patroniser of the Islamic terrorist outfit JMB. There is a strong allegation of supplying funds to the terrorist outfit JMB by collecting from different Arab countries. He is now under the RAB custody. Soon he would be produced before the court, sources said. Mufti Shahidul decided to surrender as the army-led joint forces had been looking for him during the last several days, sources said. Bangla Cricket Board prez arrested for embezzlement and 'activities against public interest': Meanwhile, two more BNP leaders and former lawmakers Ali Asgor Lobi and Salahuddin Ahmed were sent to Dhaka central jail on Wednesday with 30 days of detention. The army-led joint forces arrested Ali Asgar Lobi, a former BNP lawmaker and president of Bangladesh Cricket Board, and Salahuddin Ahmed, former state minister for Communications of the immediate-past 4-party government from their respective houses on Tuesday. Metropolitan magistrate Selina Akhter rejected their bail petitions and ordered for 30 days’ detention under the Special Powers Act. The public prosecutor submitted to the court that Salahuddin was involved in heavy corruption in construction of CNG fuel stations. He was also involved in activities against public interest. The public prosecutor submitted to the court that Ali Asgar Lobi as the Cricket Board chief had prepared unnecessary projects and embezzled huge money out of those projects.

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