Bangladesh banning Islamist politics

Bangladesh Supreme Court will decide in less than 15 days, as to whether religion based politics including Islamist politics and political parties can continue in the country. The court will decide on the fate of the 5^th Amendment in the Article 38 of Bangladeshi Constitution. If the 1972-constitution of the country will be replaced by the present amended constitution and its Article 38, religion based politics, including Islamist political parties will be banned in the country.

On April 1979, Bangladeshi Parliament, by two-thirds majority passed the Fifth Amendment Act to the Constitution. It brought many changes: restored fundamental rights, multiparty democracy and among others, gave Bangladesh Constitution an Islamic character by deleting secularism and socialism from the Constitution. To give the Constitution an Islamic character, the Preamble of the Constitution was changed in: "Pledging that the high ideals of absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah shall be the fundamental principle of the Constitution."

It may be mentioned that the Islamic character to Bangladeshi Constitution was given in 1976 by the Second Proclamation [6th Amendment Order, 1976], which was later ratified by Parliament in 1979.

By operation of the original Article 38 [of 1972], no citizen had the right to form or take part in the activities of any organisation which has been formed on the basis of religion with a view to pursuing a political purpose.

On 29th August 2005, the High Court declared the Fifth Amendment unconstitutional. On that day, a Judge in Chamber of the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the judgment of the High Court upon an appeal filed by the Government of the day. The new Government headed by Bangladesh Awami League, which came in power in January 2009 and on an application submitted by the new Government on 3rd January 2010, the previous Government's appeal was withdrawn and the stay granted has been vacated.

In the 1972 constitution of Bangladesh it is clearly mentioned that, formation of any religion based political party or organization or group will not be allowed in this country. If the 1972 constitution will be restored, Islamist and religion based political parties and groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, Nezame Islami, Islamic Oikya Jote [Islamic Unity Front], Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Andolan, Hizbut Towhid, Khatmey Nabuat Andolan, Muslim League, Bangladesh Hindu League, Bangladesh Hindu Grand Alliance, etc will automatically become ineligible in continuing activities in Bangladesh. It may be mentioned here that, Hizbut Towhid has already been listed as one of the Islamist terror outfits in the country.

Ruling secularist Awami League government in Bangladesh on April 2009 blacklisted 12 Islamist militant groups. These are: Harkatul Jihad Islami [Huji], Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh [JMB], Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh [JMJB], Shahadat-e-Hiqma [SHE], Hizb-Ut-Towhid [HuT], Islami Samaj, Ulema Anjuman At Baiyinaat, Hizb-Ut-Tahrir, Islamic Democratic Party [IDP], Touhid Trust, Tamir Ud Deen and Allah's Dal. Of these groups, JMJB, Huji, SHE, and JMB were banned during the previous BNP-Jamaat Coalition government in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina's government, which came in power in January 2009 so far, banned Hizb-Ut Tahrir only. Banning other notorious Islamist groups such as Hizb-Ut-Towhid is being delayed as it was already alleged that, some of the influential figures in the government were actively trying to save this group from being banned. Both Hizb-Ut-Tahrir and Hizb-Ut-Towhid are fanatic ultra Islamist, anti-Semitic and anti-West outfits in Bangladesh with huge number of militants as members.

Good news is, by declaring the Fifth Amendment unlawful, the High Court has also interfered with the relationship of Bangladesh with other Muslim countries based on Islamic solidarity. Article 25[2] of the Constitution provided as follows:
"The State shall endeavour to consolidate, preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic solidarity."

In such case, Bangladesh may not anymore incline in expressing undue solidarity towards Palestine and Jihadists like Hamas. Naturally this will turn Bangladesh as more acceptable ally for the West, especially those nations combating Islamist militancy.

According to constitution experts, once the Supreme Court verdict will be declared, religion based parties and groups will not be allowed to continue activities in the country. Furthermore, there will also be some changes in the constitution of Bangladesh. Presently, in the amended version of the constitution, it is clearly written that, "Bangladesh will have full trust and dependence on Allah". The verdict will also decide the main ideology of the country. It may be mentioned here that, Bangladesh was created under secularist ideology.

Former military dictator Hussain Muhammed Ershad, who leads a political party named Jatiyo Party in Bangladesh, and now one of the prominent partners of the present coalition government, established Islam as the State religion of the country, when he was in power [1982-1990]. In the electoral manifesto, Ershad declared to establish Sharia law in Bangladesh. It is not clear as to whether the ruling party will ignore such electoral pledges of its coalition partner, while enforcing the Supreme Court verdict. The ruling Bangladesh Awami League also signed a treaty with ultra Islamist party named Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish in 2006 for establishment of Sharia law in the country, once it is elected in power. This treaty was later scrapped by Awami League at massive reaction of intellectuals and secularist forces as well as strong criticism by some local newspapers, led by our newspaper, Weekly Blitz.

Commenting on the possible replacement of the present constitutional provisions in Bangladesh, leader of religious minority group in Bangladesh, Govinda Chandra Paramanik said, "We fought the war of liberation in 1971 with the hope of seeing a secular Bangladesh, freed from the grips of Pakistani occupation regime. But, our aspiration and hope had never turned true. Since independence of the country, we are greatly deprived of various rights. Till date, no government took real initiatives in scrapping the Vested Property Act, thus returning properties of Hindus in Bangladesh. Abduction and forceful conversion of Hindus are continuing, while even during the present government, our temples and deities are being attacked and demolished by the thugs belonging to the ruling party. We really want to see that, Bangladesh is completely freed from the grips of Islamist and fanatic religious notions."

Though, personally I don't want to be over optimistic on the possible implementation of the much awaited verdict of the Supreme Court, but, truly it is aspired that, Sheikh Hasina, who now leads the government, will possibly, uphold the principles and ideologies of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

During his entire life, till being brutally assassinated by some derailed army officers in 1975, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought against Islamists and religious fanatics. For such heroic role of this man, he rightly deserves appreciation and admiration of Bangladeshis as well as people in the world.

While we shall have to wait for few more days for this historic verdict from Bangladesh Supreme Court, here is a small piece of good news! The current government in Bangladesh is going to launch Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Peace Prize, which will be equally prestigious as various international prizes such as Nobel Prize, Gandhi Prize etc. This prize will also consider several figures in the world, who are contributing in establishing peace as well combating religious extremism. No doubt, this prize itself shows a positive sign for many. Hopefully, Sheikh Hasina's government will adopt policies in strong-handedly dealing the Islamists and religious fanatics in Bangladesh.

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Bangladesh banning Islamist politics

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