The country’s two rival political camps are trying hard from behind the scenes to woo the Islamists to their respective sides, giving the Islamists some political importance, at least for the time being.
Shortly after some blasphemous write ups were posted on websites, a number of Islamists parties, many backed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, launched a noisy street protests demanding exemplary punishment to those involved in mocking Islam and its Prophet Muhammad (SM).
The street agitation of the Islamists claimed several lives as the law enforcers had to open fire to contain the frenzied protesters at different parts across the country, pushing the Awami League-led government to an awkward situation.
Party insiders said Jamaat-e-Islami, which is facing its worst time for the war crimes trial, immediately took the advantage of the situation and started backing the Islamists from behind the curtains.
In the face of the evolving situation, ruling Awami League initiated a move too to woo the Islamists and designated some of its leaders to hold backstage parleys with the Islamists.
BNP too engaged some of its Islamist allies to keep in touch with the Islamists so that the ruling AL cannot convince them, said a BNP national executive committee member.
Several Islamist parties – Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Jamiyate Olamaye Islam, Nezam-e-Islami Bangladesh, Khelafat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Ulema Mashayekh Samannay Parishad and Bangladesh Farayeji Andolan—launched a movement demanding punishment of the ‘atheist bloggers’ and protesting at ‘mocking Islam’.
Of them, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and Jamiyate Olamaye Islam are the partners of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led 18-party alliance, of which Jamaat-e-Islami is also a component.
Besides, Islamists under several banners like Hefajat-e-Islam, Nastik-Murtad Protirodh Committee and Islami Ain Bastabayan Committee also took to the streets.
Even charmonai pir’s Islamic Constitution Movement, which is said to be pro-AL, staged demonstrations against ‘atheist bloggers’. It also extended support to Shah Ahmed Shafi’s movement under the banner of Hefajat-e-Islam. At the same time, it also demanded trial of the war criminals.
The director general of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Muinul Islam, popularly known as the Hathazari Madrasa (Qaumi) of Chittagong Shah Ahmed Shafi’s movement under the banner of Hefajat-e-Islam has emerged to be a major Islamist outfit demanding punishment of the ‘atheist bloggers of Shahbagh’.
Party insiders said the environment and forests minister, Hasan Mahmud, met Ahmed Shafi twice to convince him to bring an end to the street agitation.
Hefajat-e-Islam organising secretary Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi confirmed that the minister held talks with Shafi.
On the other hand, the state minister for law Quamrul Islam met Khelafat Andolan chairman Shah Ahmadullah Ashraf, who has been leading several Islamist parties in the movement against anti-Islamic on-line posts.
Khelafat Andolan organising secretary Mufti Fakhrul Islam said the state minister for law Quamrul Islam met Khelafat Andolan chairman Shah Ahmadullah Ashraf more than once.
Quamrul admitted that he held talks with Shah Ahmadullah Ashraf. ‘I being the local lawmaker have talked to him to persuade them. But I could not convince them.’
Asked whether he would continue talks with the Islamists, he said as lawmaker of the area he would continue talks with them in a bid to convince them.
Khelafat Andolan organising secretary Mufti Fakhrul Islam said they would continue their movement unless their demands that include exemplary punishment of atheist bloggers are met.
He said they have heard that the government representatives have called meeting with local Imams and Islamists at Kamrangirchar mosque in a bid to woo them.
‘We would not join the meeting,’ he said replying to a query.
After failing to convince the Islamists, the government has encouraged some pro-government Islamists take to the streets to counter the Islamists agitating against anti-Islamic activities.
The Islamists who have been active in favour of the government are : The chief imam of Sholakia Eid congregation Farid Uddin Masud, also former president of AL’s front organisation Ulema League and AL ally Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury of Islami Oikya Jote.
Besides, Bangladesh Tariqat Federation and another newly floated organisation called Imam Ulema Samannay Oikya Parishad have been vocal in favour of the government stance.
Jamaat leader Shafiqul Islam Masud, however, denied that his party was backing the Islamists.
‘They are holding their respective programmes. We have no connections with their movement,’ he said.
Source: New Age
