Bangladesh PM takes anti Islamist strategy

by Special Correspondent
February 12, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/518/bangladesh-pm-takes-anti-islamist-strategy

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in an urgent meeting asked the members of law enforcing agencies as well the intelligence agencies in becoming more vigil in checking rise of influence of any religious or fanatic group within educational campuses in Bangladesh. Following the tragic death of Awami League student wing activist Faruk Hussain, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the Home Minister and State Minister for Home Affairs to take all possible steps to ensure no such notoriety would ever take place in any of the educational institutions in the country in future.

Meanwhile, following the murder of ruling party student wing activists at Rajshahi University campus, members of law enforcing agencies killed a Jamaat-e-Islami student wing leader named Hafizur Rahman Shahin at Chapai Nawabganj district while another Jamaat student wing leader named Mohiuddin Masum was killed by ruling party student wing activists at Chittagong University,

Following the murder of ruling party's student wing activists at Rajshahi University campus, state minister for home affairs, Advocate Shamsul Huq Tuku has instructed the members of law enforcing agencies to go for all out offensives on activists and leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wings as well any of the affiliated groups or factions of this Islamist political party. Combing operation has already started since the directives of the government and hundreds of Jamaat activists are picked by members of law enforcing agencies from different parts of the country.

While various campuses in Bangladesh are already in a real volatile situation, members of the student's wing of the ruling party assaulted at least 10 journalists inside Rajshahi University campus on Thursday [February 11, 2010]. These journalists were mercilessly beaten by the Bangladesh Chhatra League [BCL] activists, when they were taking pictures of massive rampage of BCL men inside the campus.

Right after the incident of such assault of members of press at Rajshahi, local Awami League leader tried to put the blame on 'intruders from Islamists groups' who has infiltrated into the student wing of the ruling party.

Death of BCL activists Faruk Hussain at Rajshahi and subsequent statements by the ruling party leaders and ministers has instigated countrywide violence on Jamaat-e-Islami as well as other political opponents of Bangladesh Awami League. So far at least ten offices of Jamaat or Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] came under attack. The trend of attacking political opponents is gradually spreading in various parts of the country.

It is also indicated by various sources that, while the drive will mostly go against activists and leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student's wing, other Islamist groups such as Hizbut Tahrir [HT] and Hizbut Towhid [HuT] shall also continue side-by-side.

Bangladesh government banned the activities of Hizbut Tahrir in September 2009. But, despite this ban, members of this group are reportedly continuing activities throughout the country as well continuing all of its publications on a regular basis. On the other hand, notorious Islamist group Hizbut Towhid, which is led by one Bayejid Khan Panni aka Selim Panni is continuing its countrywide activities, including distribution of various hate materials mostly written by Selim Panni. In their latest publication named 'Dazzal', Selim Panni gives provocations to Muslims in waging war against Jews and Christians.

Both Hizbut Tahrir and Hizbut Towhid oppose democracy and terms women in politics as 'prostitutes'. Hizbut Towhid declared democratic system as 'rule of evils' and calls for waging Jihad against such system.

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