Banglar Bir
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Hasina plays secularism and Islamism to hide India issue
Abdur Rahman Khan
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appears to have been intelligently playing the cards of secularism and Islamism to keep both groups engaged in an apparent bid to cover up the contentious political debates centering his big deals with India.
India and Bangladesh have pitched their burgeoning relations onto a higher trajectory by signing 22 agreements in diverse areas, including two crucial defence agreements and another one on civil nuclear energy cooperation after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina in the Indian capital on April 8.
Hasina playing Islamic card
New Delhi has raised the bar for development and strategic cooperation by unveiling a combined package of $5 billion in new Lines of Credit for Dhaka.
Before launching her four day visit to New Delhi, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior clerics from Saudi Arabia addressed a huge gathering of about 100,000 Muslim clerics and preachers denouncing the growing threat of Islamic terrorism in the country and urging Muslims to fight extremism.
The Islamic Foundation, an organization associated with the Ministry of Religious Affairs organized the rally to mark its 42nd founding anniversary on April 6. The gathering was planned to protest a violent “power grab” in the name of Islam in Muslim majority Bangladesh, where a rise in Islamist extremism has sparked international concern.
The rally followed recent attacks by terrorists in the northeastern city of Sylhet and near Dhaka. Many, including last year’s attack on an up market cafe in Dhaka in which 22 people including 18 foreign hostages were killed, have been claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.
On her return from Delhi, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday described Bangla New Year Pahela Baishakh celebrations as part of the country’s tradition and called upon the people to stay alert about misinformation regarding the festival.
“There’s no connection between the celebrations of Bangla New Year and the religion ... the festival is part of (our) cultural tradition,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina attended a gathering of Qawmi madrasa representatives last Tuesday evening with Hifazat-e Islam chief Shah Ahmad Shafi by her side. Agreeing with the Islamist hardliners demand, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she also ‘dislikes’ the statue at the Supreme Court premises and will talk to the chief justice about it.
The Islamic groups say the figure, a variation on the Greek goddess Themis but in a sari, goes against Islam. They say the statue erected in December 2016, holding the familiar sword and scales of justice in her hands, amounts to idolatry.
AL’s balancing act
“I don’t like it myself. It’s being called a Greek statue, but how will a Greek statue get here?” Hasina said. “The Greeks had a certain kind of attire. But there is a sari on this one. That too is ridiculous.”
“I will sit with the chief justice very soon. Have patience, and don’t create a situation about the issue,” the prime minister said. “Have some faith in me; I will do whatever is necessary about the matter.”
The moderator of the programme termed ‘Hasina as the guardian of the state and Shafi the spiritual head of the state’.
Maulana Shaf, who was once bitterly criticized by AL leaders as “Tetul Hujur” led a prayer at the end of the program at Bangabhaban.
Though the prime minister agreed with the Hifazat on the statue, some leaders of her Awami League party had been criticising the radical group for what they call “some unreasonable demands”.
Meanwhile, former law minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed told the media that the sculpture was nothing but the symbol of unbiased conscience of justice, honoured by the countries all over the world, including Islamic countries like Iran.
Khushi Kabir, head of rights organisation Nijera Kori, said “There are many sculptures in our country which carry the significance of our identity, history and tradition.” She feared that if this demand was met, they would also demand the destruction of other sculptures such as Oporajeyo Bangla, Raju Bhashkorjo, or Amar Ekushey.
On the contrary, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, demanded actions against those who threatened the highest court and judicial system and said: “Calling this sculpture an idol is politically motivated.”
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor said, “The way Hijazat is making their demands, it looks like Bangladesh is not a people’s republic, rather it’s an Islamic republic.”
Visibility of conflicts spreading
Fariduddin Masud of Olama Mashaeq Parishad, a pro-AL Islamic group said at the Ganabhaban programme “the Islamic scholars expressed their solidarity with the pro-liberation forces in the country. This will bring prosperity for the country.”
In what appears to be a major concession to Islamists, Hasina also said last Tuesday her government would recognise degrees from madrassas, paving the way for millions of religious scholars to qualify for jobs in public and private sectors.
Conservative Bangladesh has experienced increasing tensions between Islamists hardliners and secularists in recent years, suffering a spate of killings of atheist bloggers, religious minorities and foreigners. Hasina’s policy shift on madrassa education has shocked secular groups, who consider it further evidence of creeping Islamisation as hardline elements forcing Bangladeshi society to closely reflect its Muslim traditions.
It comes as Hasina is seemingly preparing for an early general election later this year, more than 12 months ahead of schedule, with analysts speculating that the prime minister could be trying to corner the Islamist-allied centre-right mainstream opposition.
Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam have been staging protests after every Friday prayer throughout the country including major cities, calling for the removal of the Greek goddess statue at the Supreme Court.
Earlier on February 14, they had submitted memorandums to the prime minister and the chief justice. They stated the “idol” was anti-Islamic and threatened to stage demonstrations and bring out processions if their demand went unheeded. Court officials, however, defended the statue as “a symbol of justice.”
Recently, Ansar al-Islam, the Bangladesh affiliate of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), has extended support for the ongoing movement of radical Islamists who demanded removal of Lady Justice ‘idol’ from the Supreme Court premises.
Abdur Rahman Khan
India and Bangladesh have pitched their burgeoning relations onto a higher trajectory by signing 22 agreements in diverse areas, including two crucial defence agreements and another one on civil nuclear energy cooperation after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina in the Indian capital on April 8.
Hasina playing Islamic card
New Delhi has raised the bar for development and strategic cooperation by unveiling a combined package of $5 billion in new Lines of Credit for Dhaka.
Before launching her four day visit to New Delhi, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior clerics from Saudi Arabia addressed a huge gathering of about 100,000 Muslim clerics and preachers denouncing the growing threat of Islamic terrorism in the country and urging Muslims to fight extremism.
The Islamic Foundation, an organization associated with the Ministry of Religious Affairs organized the rally to mark its 42nd founding anniversary on April 6. The gathering was planned to protest a violent “power grab” in the name of Islam in Muslim majority Bangladesh, where a rise in Islamist extremism has sparked international concern.
The rally followed recent attacks by terrorists in the northeastern city of Sylhet and near Dhaka. Many, including last year’s attack on an up market cafe in Dhaka in which 22 people including 18 foreign hostages were killed, have been claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.
On her return from Delhi, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday described Bangla New Year Pahela Baishakh celebrations as part of the country’s tradition and called upon the people to stay alert about misinformation regarding the festival.
“There’s no connection between the celebrations of Bangla New Year and the religion ... the festival is part of (our) cultural tradition,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina attended a gathering of Qawmi madrasa representatives last Tuesday evening with Hifazat-e Islam chief Shah Ahmad Shafi by her side. Agreeing with the Islamist hardliners demand, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she also ‘dislikes’ the statue at the Supreme Court premises and will talk to the chief justice about it.
The Islamic groups say the figure, a variation on the Greek goddess Themis but in a sari, goes against Islam. They say the statue erected in December 2016, holding the familiar sword and scales of justice in her hands, amounts to idolatry.
AL’s balancing act
“I don’t like it myself. It’s being called a Greek statue, but how will a Greek statue get here?” Hasina said. “The Greeks had a certain kind of attire. But there is a sari on this one. That too is ridiculous.”
“I will sit with the chief justice very soon. Have patience, and don’t create a situation about the issue,” the prime minister said. “Have some faith in me; I will do whatever is necessary about the matter.”
The moderator of the programme termed ‘Hasina as the guardian of the state and Shafi the spiritual head of the state’.
Maulana Shaf, who was once bitterly criticized by AL leaders as “Tetul Hujur” led a prayer at the end of the program at Bangabhaban.
Though the prime minister agreed with the Hifazat on the statue, some leaders of her Awami League party had been criticising the radical group for what they call “some unreasonable demands”.
Meanwhile, former law minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed told the media that the sculpture was nothing but the symbol of unbiased conscience of justice, honoured by the countries all over the world, including Islamic countries like Iran.
Khushi Kabir, head of rights organisation Nijera Kori, said “There are many sculptures in our country which carry the significance of our identity, history and tradition.” She feared that if this demand was met, they would also demand the destruction of other sculptures such as Oporajeyo Bangla, Raju Bhashkorjo, or Amar Ekushey.
On the contrary, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, demanded actions against those who threatened the highest court and judicial system and said: “Calling this sculpture an idol is politically motivated.”
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor said, “The way Hijazat is making their demands, it looks like Bangladesh is not a people’s republic, rather it’s an Islamic republic.”
Visibility of conflicts spreading
Fariduddin Masud of Olama Mashaeq Parishad, a pro-AL Islamic group said at the Ganabhaban programme “the Islamic scholars expressed their solidarity with the pro-liberation forces in the country. This will bring prosperity for the country.”
In what appears to be a major concession to Islamists, Hasina also said last Tuesday her government would recognise degrees from madrassas, paving the way for millions of religious scholars to qualify for jobs in public and private sectors.
Conservative Bangladesh has experienced increasing tensions between Islamists hardliners and secularists in recent years, suffering a spate of killings of atheist bloggers, religious minorities and foreigners. Hasina’s policy shift on madrassa education has shocked secular groups, who consider it further evidence of creeping Islamisation as hardline elements forcing Bangladeshi society to closely reflect its Muslim traditions.
It comes as Hasina is seemingly preparing for an early general election later this year, more than 12 months ahead of schedule, with analysts speculating that the prime minister could be trying to corner the Islamist-allied centre-right mainstream opposition.
Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam have been staging protests after every Friday prayer throughout the country including major cities, calling for the removal of the Greek goddess statue at the Supreme Court.
Earlier on February 14, they had submitted memorandums to the prime minister and the chief justice. They stated the “idol” was anti-Islamic and threatened to stage demonstrations and bring out processions if their demand went unheeded. Court officials, however, defended the statue as “a symbol of justice.”
Recently, Ansar al-Islam, the Bangladesh affiliate of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), has extended support for the ongoing movement of radical Islamists who demanded removal of Lady Justice ‘idol’ from the Supreme Court premises.
