Jamaat-e-Islami
Jamaat's statement on resisting upcoming nat'l election came from BNP: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud today said that BNP has instructed Jamaat-e-Islami to give statement about resisting the upcoming national election.
“The statements made during Jamaat's recent rally reflect BNP's stance. They advocated for resisting the national election, similar to what occurred in 2014 when many people lost their lives in violent clashes. Jamaat is the main partner of the BNP-led coalition, and the directive to resist the election came from BNP itself,” he said while addressing the media at the Ministry of Information's conference room in the Secretariat on Sunday.
Also Read: Jamaat holds first rally after a decade, demands polls under caretaker govt
He further said, “The people of Bangladesh will not allow a recurrence of the events that took place in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The intentions behind their recent statement were made evident. It is necessary to address this situation.”
Responding to questions regarding allowing Jamaat to hold a rally, Mahmud said, “As Jamaat has not yet been banned and has applied for permission for the rally as a political party, they were granted permission.”
“Every political party has the right to hold rallies, as long as they are not banned. Any political party's ability to hold meetings is not restricted unless they face a ban,” the minister said.
Also Read: BNP behind Jamaat’s protest, meaning they are preparing for arson: Quader
Mahmud further explained, “We encourage the participation of all political parties in the election. The electoral process extends beyond the election day itself. With only six months remaining until the election, it is customary for political parties to hold meetings in order to create a conducive environment.”
Also Read: Jamaat gets permission to hold rally at Engineers Institute
He continued: “Various political parties are currently organizing meetings, but BNP and Jamaat's motives differ. By reviewing their past actions and interpreting their recent statements, it is evident that they are attempting to replicate past events. However, the people of this nation will not tolerate such actions.”
Also Read: Hasan Mahmud blames BNP's 'destructive politics' for US visa policy
Nur calls Jamaat’s ameer “humanitarian”
Right after returning to Bangladesh, Member Secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad Nurul Haque Nur has defended Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman — arrested over assisting a militant group — as a “humanitarian” individual.
“How could the government arrest such a humanitarian person like the ameer of Jamaat?” — Nur said in a video of a press conference today.
According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the Jamaat ameer’s son got involved with the militant group Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya. Later, Shafiqur allegedly supported and funded them.
Two police officers were injured in a clash with Jamaat-e-Islami activists during their demonstration protesting the arrest of their ameer in Rajshahi city on December 13, 2022.
Jamaat, Shibir men also clashed with police on December 30 — leaving several people, including cops, injured.
Read more: ‘Free arrested Chhatra Odhikar Parishad activists’: Nur, Saki submit memo to DU VC
The latest call by Nur, defending the Jamaat ameer and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, comes after his return from a much talked about overseas trip, during which he reportedly met an individual named Mendi N Safadi, apparently an agent of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A sedition complaint was filed against Nur in this regard. "It seems that Nur has been involved in a conspiracy to unseat the elected government in Bangladesh," the complaint says.
Jamaat, Shibir men clash with police over holding mass procession in Malibagh
A clash broke out between the law enforcers and activists and leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir in the capital's Malibagh as they tried to bring out a procession after Juma prayers, police said.
Several people, including 10 cops and Jamaat- Shibir men sustained injuries during the clash.
The law enforcers detained several Jamaat-Shibir men over the incident.
The injured cops were New Market and Ramna zones’ Assistant Commissioners Sharif Mohammad Farukuzzaman and Md Bayezidur Rahman, sub inspectors—Shahidul Osman Masum, Subir Kumar Karmakar, Habibur Rahman, Mohaiminul Hasan, Kabir Hossain, Md Firoz Miah, constables Sourav Nath and Sadi Mohammad.
A police officer said the Jamaat-e-Islami sought permission from the police to bring out a mass procession from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque as part of the simultaneous movement of the opposition parties and alliances to unseat the current government. "But the party was denied permission."
Read more: Simultaneous Movement: Ganatantra Mancha brings out mass procession in Dhaka
"The Jamaat men tried to hold a mass procession without police permission in Malibagh. A clash ensued as police had asked the Jamaat men not to go through with the procession, but they had paid no heed to the law enforcers," Shahen Shah Mahmud, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division), said.
"The Jamaat-Shibir men hurled bricks at police. The law enforcers then fired tear gas to disperse them and bring the situation under control," he added. "Later, some people were detained from the spot and brought to the concerned police station."
Read more: Simultaneous Movement: 33 opposition parties set to take out mass processions in city
Despite its 1971 role, spokesperson says Jamaat ‘committed to democracy’ since formation
Despite its widely documented role as collaborating with the Pakistani occupation forces in committing genocide during the Liberation War in 1971, a spokesperson of Jamaat-e-Islami has claimed that the party, since its formation, is “committed to democracy’.
Abu Bakar Molla, EU and UK spokesperson of Jamaat, was speaking on a TRT World current affairs programme, “The Newsmakers”, on December 21, 2022.
Jamaat-e-Islami actively opposed the creation of Bangladesh and helped Pakistani forces carry out genocide and crimes against humanity during the nine months of the Liberation War.
Read more: PM Hasina wonders how leftists could join hands with BNP and Jamaat
In its verdict against Ghulam Azam, the Jamaat ameer in 1971, the International Crimes Tribunal noted that Jamaat-e-Islami – under Ghulam Azam’s leadership – operated as a “criminal organisation” during the Liberation War.
Without naming any specific human rights organization, the Jamaat spokesperson said, “What about the international human rights community are saying… they are independent, they are neutral… international human rights community has given statements, saying that human rights are grossly violated in Bangladesh.”
Incidentally, Jamaat-e-Islami recently claimed that Indian forces were “behind the killings of intellectuals” at the end of the Liberation War. A claim The Daily Star reported as “yet another blatant attempt to distort history.”
During a virtual discussion on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day, Jamaat leaders claimed that Bengali intellectuals were killed so that the country “could not stand without the support of a neighbouring country.”
Read more: Jamaat, which was behind killings of intellectuals in 1971, BNP's main associate: Info Minister
On the TRT World program, Abu Bakar spoke about supporting Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in its call for restoring the caretaker government system and demand for resignation of the current government.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, standing committee member of BNP, reiterated his party’s call for national election only under a caretaker government.
Also on the show, Barrister Shah Ali Farhad, former special assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, “The (recent) protests are actually purely political party rallies of BNP. No evidence to suggest that they have any mass involvement. While rising costs of living are impacting citizens’ lives, they are well informed as to the global reasons behind the rise. Their confidence is on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to deliver results, as she has delivered over the last one decade… The government respects the freedoms of assembly and speech of BNP and their allies as long as no public security risk is involved. The fact that BNP organised rallies in all divisional cities is evidence of the government’s cooperation in this regard.”
11 female Jamaat activists arrested in Chandpur; Court sent all to jail
Police arrested 11 female members of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami from Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur on Sunday night during a secret meeting.
They were arrested from 11th floor of a multistoried building at Paschim Bazar, said Md Nazrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Hajiganj police station.
A Chandpur court on Monday sent all the arrestees to jail said the OC.
Read more: Jamaat Ameer backing new militant group: DMP Commissioner
OC Nazrul said the house owned by a retired deputy assistant agriculture officer was under surveillance on suspicion and the Jamaat members were arrested on allegation of planning anti-state activities.
The owner however remained absconding, he said.
Police seized some materials like books, leaflets, and invitation cards for spreading Jamaat’s ideology during the arrest.
Read more: Arrest warrants issued against Jamaat chief, 11 others in sabotage case
Chandpur town unit Ameer(chief) of Jamaat Shahjahan Mia said the arrestees were all Jamaat members but they were not planning any anti-state activities rather they went to attend a family programme.
Eminent citizens ask countrymen to remain aware of anti-Bangladesh lobbying, propaganda
A group of eminent citizens on Thursday issued a joint statement, asking the people of the country to remain alert about any kind of lobbying and propaganda against Bangladesh.
Referring to the Al Jazeera report on British lawyer Toby Cadman who has admitted that he tried to persuade the US and the UK governments to impose sanctions on Bangladesh earlier this month, the joint statement said that conspiracy is going on against the country.
The statement said that such lobbying started a long time ago and not only Toby, but a US firm was also involved in persuading the US government to impose sanctions on Bangladesh.
Read: Toby Cadman, who was Jamaat's legal advisor, tells Al Jazeera he was part of team asking US, UK govts for Rab sanction
“Toby Cadman has been working as a lawyer for Jamaat-e-Islami since 2011. Besides, Jamaat had also hired a US-based lobbyist firm named Cassidy and Associates in exchange for $25 million during the war crimes trial in Bangladesh,” the statement reads.
“By doing these things, Jamaat has been trying to malign the image of Bangladesh in front of the international community, especially the US. We ask everyone to remain alert against these plots,” the statement reads.
Among the 21 signatories to the statement are dramatist Ramendu Majumder, former advisor to the caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury, human rights worker Khushi Kabir and Dhaka University teachers MM Akash and Robayet Ferdous.
Cadman admitted to Al Jazeera that his efforts to get the UK to impose sanctions against Bangladesh’s law enforcement officials and expressed disappointment that it did not work out.
“I filed the request for sanctions and whilst I am not in a position to discuss the substance, I can confirm that I discussed the request with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO),” Cadman was quoted as saying, referring to the UK Foreign Office.
Read: BNP spent a lot on lobbying by US firm: Shahriar
Jamaat-e-Islami engaged Toby Cadman as its legal advisor in London in 2011, after the trials of several top Jamaat leaders started – over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
Jamaat chief arrest: 2 cops hurt in Jamaat demonstration in Rajshahi
Two police officials were injured in a clash with Jamaat-e-Islami activists during their a demonstration protesting the arrest of their ameer Shafiqur Rahman in Rajshahi city on Tuesday.
The injured police members are Sub Inspector Abu Haider and Constable Ahad of Boalia police station in Rajshahi city.
The Jamaat-e-Islami activists carried out the demonstration led by Jamaat secretary Emaj Uddin Mandal from the New Market area of the city demanding the release of the central ameer of Jamaat.
Read more: Jamaat ameer involved in breeding new militant outfit: CTTC chief
The clash broke out when police chased them to disperse the procession at the Nagar Bhaban intersection, said Boalia police station officer-in-charge (OC) Mazharul Islam.
Two police members were injured as the Jamaat activists hurled brick chips on them and were given first aid immediately, he said.
The OC said there was no permission to bring out the procession.
Besides, a case will be filed in this regard, said the OC.
The Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Shafiqur Rahman in the early hours of Tuesday from his residence in the capital.
Read more: Police: Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman arrested
He was also placed on a seven-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act today (Tuesday).
On December 10, the ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami announced a 10-point demand largely overlapping with the BNP's, and declared a mass rally on December 24 just after the BNP's announcement.
Jamaat-e-Islami made the announcement to build a nationwide simultaneous mass movement based on the 10-point demand to restore democracy in the country and bring back the people's rights, said a media statement.
Police: Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman arrested
The Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested the ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman early hours of Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner (media) of DMP Faruq Hossain confirmed it to UNB but he didn’t disclose the details of the arrest and the allegations against the Jamaat ameer.
Acting Secretary General of Jamaat ATM Masum in a statement claimed the arrest was made around 1 am from his residence in the capital.
Read more: Jamaat declares overlapping 10-point demand; announces mass rally on Dec 24
He condemned and protested the arrest.
He said the government cannot stop the ongoing political protests in the country by such arrests. “The people’s movement cannot be stopped by creating fear, attack and filing cases,” he said in his statement.
Masum urged the authority to immediately give unconditional release of arrested Jamaat leaders including Shafiqur and leaders of other political parties.
On December 11, the ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami announced a 10-point demand largely overlapping with the BNP's, and declared a mass rally on December 24 just after the BNP's announcement.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Abbas shown arrested in Paltan police station case: DB Chief
Jamaat-e-Islami made the announcement to build a nationwide simultaneous mass movement based on the 10-point demand to restore democracy in the country and bring back the people's rights, said a media statement..
BNP’s ideology stands poles apart from Jamaat, it sees India as a special friend, says Mirza Fakhrul in an exclusive interview with UNB
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that his party is different from Jamaat-e-Islami in terms of ideology and political principles.
“We believe in democracy, religious freedom and religious values of all religions. But Jamaat does politics to establish Islam and it doesn’t match with us,” Fakhrul said in an exclusive interview with UNB at his Uttara residence this week.
He, however, said that there are many equations and polarisations in parliamentary politics.
“The main issue here is the number or 151 seats,” he said.
Read more: US sanctions on RAB made BNP fearless in anti-government protests: Fakhrul
Every party, he said, tries to get 151 seats and that's why parties make alliances with Jamaat or reach an understating with Jamaat without forging an alliance. “Awami League had a clear relationship with Jamaat when it waged a movement against us in 1994-1996.”
The BNP leader said their party had an electoral alliance with Jamaat, but not an ideological one. “Our politics will depend entirely on our interests. We’re now going to wage our simultaneous movement independently but not under any alliance.”
He also said Awami League talks against Jamaat only to make political gains, but it has not so far taken any step to ban the party.
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said their party wants all opposition parties, including the left-leaning and Islamic ones, to participate in the simultaneous movement to force the AL government to resign paving the way for holding the next general election under a neutral caretaker administration.
Jamaat-e-Islami can get registered if conditions are met, says commissioner Alamgir
Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said on Wednesday that Bangladesh Jamaat-e Islami can get registration under a different name if they fulfill all the conditions.
“If anyone seeks registration, they will have to come up as a new party. If they fulfill all the conditions, they will get registration. And if they fail, they will not get it,” he said.
He made the comment when he talked to reporters at his office at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.
Read:Bangladesh Development Party seeks EC registration
Alamgir said the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami was cancelled as its charter was not consistent with the Constitution and the spirit of the Liberation War.
“If now any new political party applies for registration and their charter is consistent with our Constitution and the spirit of the Liberation War, there is no war criminal among them and fulfills all other conditions, you can’t brand someone as a Jamaat man,” he said.
He, however, said there is no scope for any party to get registered as Jamaat-e-Islami now.
The deadline for new political parties to apply for registration will expire on October 30.
The High Court declared the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami illegal in 2013 and the EC cancelled its registration in 2018.
Read:EC directed to fix new date for Noakhali Zila Parishad election
Replying to another question, he said the provision for the registered political parties to ensure at least 33 percent women in their all-level committees by 2030 was not so realistic.
“Those who incorporate it in the law didn’t consider the reality,” he said, adding that the political parties were also not so sincere to fulfill the provision.
Alamgir said the Election Commission has now recommended the extension of the deadline for fulfilling the target to 2030.
According to the Representation of Public Order, a registered political party needs to fix the goal of reserving at least 33 percent of all committee positions for women including the central committee and successively achieving this goal by 2020.
But the political parties failed to meet the goal by 2020.