Bangladesh’s leading Qawmi scholars met with leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami during which the participants expressed hope for the establishment of an Islamic State led by Jamaat’s Emir/Ameer (chairman) Dr Shafiqur Rahman. On 18th August, a few representatives of the Qawmi madrasa-based platform Hefazat-e-Islam attended the gathering which took place in a Dhaka auditorium.
Maulana Mufti Mohiuddin Qasemi, Mufti Khurshid Alam Qasemi, Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi, Mufti Rezaul Karim Abrar, Maulana Abdul Majeed Athabi, Mufti Azharul Islam, Mufti Fakhrul Islam, Mufti Radesh Bin Noor and Maulana Munir, among others were present during the event, according to a press release from Jamaat-e-Islami. The outfit was formerly a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led administration from 2001 to 2006, however, the coalition wasn’t active in the past few years. Last year, during the anti-government movement, both the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami witnessed demonstrations at the same time.
The government of the Awami League banned the Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir (its student wing) and other affiliated organizations on 1st August due to their role in the recent terrorist assaults that occurred during the nationwide anti-quota movement. However, the president and the army chief welcomed the group to the talks convened to discuss how to create an interim government after the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed resigned and left the country as her administration collapsed on 5th August. “From now on, we are all for each other. We will all be united like a wall made of lead. I apologize to you if I have hurt you in the past. I hope you will forgive us,” Jamaat-e-Islami’s supremo Dr Shafiqur Rahman stated during the meeting.
“The Jamaat Ameer has blessed everyone by bringing together the scholars of all Markaz. This unity, or a greater unity, will be of no use if we cannot unite in the battle of the ballots. Our country is a democratic country. So we have to move towards a democratic system,” conveyed Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi, joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam. “Our party was initiated by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (RA). The evil force is always united. But there are thousands of disagreements between us. Now we all have to forget all differences and unite,” announced senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Maulana Abdul Majed Athari.
“We must be united regardless of party opinion. We should forget all our past differences and should not give any political party a chance,” voiced Shariat Mufti Abu Zafar Qasemi, Ameer of the Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan. Maulana Moniruzzaman Qasemi of Jamia Madania expressed, “We are talking about unity, but we were already united. We drifted apart for some time. We were all oppressed. Now we all have to work together again. The largest Islamic party in Bangladesh is Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. I have met the Jamaat Ameer many times. He is very humble. Therefore, I believe he is the one who can make us all stand on one platform.”
“We all have been able to unite at the call of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, for that, we are thanking God. According to my knowledge, the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer fasts every Monday and Thursday. Although it is not right to praise anyone directly, I still want to share this. In my opinion, it will be possible to form an Islamic state through him,” declared Mufti Azharul Islam, another veteran leader of Hefazat-e-Islam.
One of the scholars in the meeting claimed that Jamaat-e-Islami’s head is a sincere person. He spent several months behind bars. At the time, other leaders were incarcerated as well. Everyone imprisoned was invited to attend the event. He clarified that it was not a formal meeting.
Bangladesh has been gripped in violence since June due to the student protests which witnessed hundreds of deaths and injuries across the country. The movement which had active participation from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and other jihadi elements later turned into attacks on the country’s minorities especially Hindus, their religious places and properties after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. Hindus are also being pressured to quit their positions. Now, the extremists are demanding the implementation of Sharia Law in Bangladesh.
