Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (a.k.a 'Jamaat') is the largest Islamist political party in Bangladesh. This is one of the leading political party in Bangladesh and largest islamic party in subcontinent. The party joined in Bangladesh Nationalist Party lead government and hold two key Ministries with Khaleda Zia's government. It is alleged that this party played a questionable role in freedom fight of Bangladesh
History of the party
British India (1941-1947)
see also Jamaat-e-Islami
The Jamaat-e-Islami was founded in pre-partition India by Syed Ab'ul Ala Maududi in 1941. Maulana Maududi moved to Pakistan from India after independence and the current party in Bangladesh originated out of the East Pakistan wing of the party. However, Jamaat had opposed the creation of a Pakistan as a separate state for the Muslims of India. While persisting in his Anti-Pakistan ideology, Maududi wrote in one of his books, *"If we have ever uttered a single word in the favor of creation of Pakistan, it must be proved with references." That is why Jamat-e-Islami also did not support the Muslim League, the largest Muslim party, in the core election of 1946.
Pakistan Period (1948 - 1971)
After the creation of Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami was divided into separate Indian and Pakistani organisations. The Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh originates from Jamaat wing in the then East Pakistan. Jamaat strongly opposed for an independent Bangladesh through means of war, which it saw as against Islam. However, Ameer Ghulam Azam has stated many times that he was willing to support an independent Bangladesh through political means. Jammat Islami Participated democratic movement in Pakistan during Marshal Law Period of General Ayub Khan. An all party democratic alliance(DAC) was formed in 1965. Prof. Ghulam Azam was one of the member of that alliance in which Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also the member of that alliance. [1][2]
One of Jamat's top leader, Mujahid’s statement on “Daily Sangram” on October 15th ,1971
- *“The youths of the Razakars and al-Badar forces and all other voluntary organizations have been working for the national to protect it from the collaborators and agents of India. But, recently it was observed that a section of political leaders like ZA Bhutto, Kawsar Niazi, Mufti Mahmud and Asgar Khan have been making objectionable remarks about the patriots.
Jamaat opposition of Bangladesh Independence
In his autobiography, Golam Azam wrote the following:
26 March 1971:
First driver took me to Dhaka university area. Saw the brutal sceneray, mass killing of man-woman, child,livestock. Then went to NayaBazar , sometimes on the road and sometimes on rickashw there are dead bodies. Looks like an army are in war with enemy. I think to suppress the protesters only killing threat was enough instead of killing. But military advisors in reality have different view of suppress any protest. …Some questions came out in my mind. Will Bangladesh get the true independency after being separated from Pakistan by Indian help ? 7/8 days passed on this thinking.
3 April 1971:
Secretary General of Nezami Party, Moulavi Farid Uddin Ahmad called me and informed that he and Khaza Nazimuddin decided to meet General Tikka Khan. Tikkha Khan asked us to go meet him on 4th April. I surprisely asked about who was behind the meeting. He replied “we want to meet and Tikka Khan also wants to meet leaders who believe in united Pakistan”. I talked with Dhaka city Ameer Khurram Murad and decided to go meet General Tikka Khan. We met Tikkha khan and Rao Forman Ali there. Rao Foman ali told us that “Awami League wants to separate from Pakistan and be servant of India. But we are unable to make people understand this. You are known leaders to people. If you speak to people about these, people will accept it. If you broadcast the speech on radio it will easily be received by people. We have arranged the recording here. We can record and broadcast today. “Rao Formam Ali said all these on such a beautiful way that Nurul Amin instantly agreed to record his speech and so as two other of my accompanies. But I said, I need time to make the speech contents. Thus I took time to discuss with my fellows. After discussing with Khurram Murad, Provincial Secretary Abdul Khaleq, Central Nayeb Amir Abdur rahim we made a draft of speech without mentioning Awami League, Independence or any other army action. We mentioned that India can’t be our friend and India would conquer our country under current situation.
Rezakar Party,1971:
Rezakars used to guard where there was a threat of Mukti Bahini attacks. Mukti Bahini used to dynamite bridges to disturb movement of armed military. So, Rezakar party started to guard these areas. Mukti Bahini used to come at schools to convince students of joining Mukti Bahini, so Rezakars also started guarding schools to prevent the coming of Mukti Bahini. Electricity supply sources were also guarded by rezakars. On last days of April, Peace Committee was formed in a meeting at Nurul Amin’s residence. There I told the meting that we sincerely wanted to keep Pakistan united. With everybody’s agreement peace committee was formed.
My Feeling on 16th December,1971
Although BBC was giving news against Pakistan, I had no other source of getting information about East Pakistan. On last days of Pakistan army’s surrender I became worried that because of Pakistan army’s surrender there would be no control on law and order. Indian army cannot restore law and order. Under this circumstances, secular, leftists Mukti Bahini would carry a mass-killing . In other cities they would carry further brutal actions. Those who are Islamic activists would be tortured by Mukti Bahini.
Practicing Democracy
In the present context of Bangladeshi political party Jamaat-e-Islami is well known for practicing democracy in their party activities by following own party constitution. No other party in Bangladesh is following their own constitution. After the change of 1/11 (January 11 2007) the caretaker government is trying to modify total political environment of Bangladesh by forcing all parties to practice democratic system. No council has been conducted within a decade in, Bnagladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Awami League and Jatiya Party except Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. These are the major political parties in Bangladesh. The leaders of Jammat-e-Islami from all tiers (central to thana unit) have been constituted by electoral procedures, in time, as described in their constitution. Jammat strictly follows auditing system in every financial matters in their party, whereas there is no accountability system in other three major parties.
Bangladesh Period (1978 - present)
Jamaat was banned after victory of Mukti Bahini and its top leaders fled to West Pakistan. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman , first president of Bangladesh also cancelled the citizenship of Golam Azam, the leader of Jamaat. Azam then moved to London, and other leaders moved to the Middle East. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in 1975, enabling army chief Major general Ziaur Rahman to seize power. With Rahman's coup, Jamaat again resumed political activities in Bangladesh. Rahman also allowed Azam to return to Bangladesh as the leader of Jamaat.
After the end of military rule in 1990, protests began against Azam and Jamaat under war criminal charges headed by Jahanara Imam, an author who lost her two sons and husband in the liberation war. Azam's citizenship was challenged in supreme court as he was holding a Pakistani passport. Due to lack of any credible evidence of war crimes, Bangladesh's supreme court had to allow Azam to have a Bangladeshi passport and continue its political activities. Imam died a few years later, and since then no protests against Jamaat alleging war crimes has occurred.
Bangladesh police arrested Jamaat-e-Islami chief and former Industry Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami from his residence in the capital in a graft case on 19 May 2008. Earlier, two former Cabinet Ministers of the immediate past BNP-led alliance government, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Shamsul Islam were sent to Dhaka Central Jail after they surrendered before the court.
The Jamaat in Parliament Elections
| 1973 Parliament Election | 1978 Parliament Election | 1986 Parliament Election | 1991 Parliament Election | 1996 Parliament Election | 2001 Parliament Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party was banned because of its opposition of Bangladesh independence and collaborted with Pakistan army. | Party was allowed to start political activities. | Did not participate. | Won 18 seats. | Won 3 seats. | Won 18 seats. (took part by forming alliance with 3 other parties.) |
See also
- Bangladesh Liberation War
- Jamaat-e-Islami
- Islami Chhatra Shibir
- List of political parties in Bangladesh
- Golam Azam
- Delwar Hossain Sayidee
References
- "Document of Independence" by Government of Bangladesh.
- "A betrayal to remember" by A A K Niazi
- "Jibone Ja Deklam" (What I saw in life) , a biography by Golam Azam
- "Ma" (Mother) by Anisul haque
- "The Rape of Bangladesh" by Robert Anthony
- "Muktir Gaan", documentary by Tareq Masud and Catherine Masud
- The Nation, "The 'Talibanization' of Bangladesh"
External links
- Jamaat-e-Islami Manifesto
- Matiur Rahman Nizami at Chatham House explaining his party's philosophy
- Matiur Rahman Nizami
