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A new Bangladesh : Beard and Cap Forbidden

Vinod Mehta - 7/17/2010

This is exactly what was the spirit behind creation of a secularist Bangladesh by freeing chains of slavery from Pakistanis! But, due to tragic murder of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, Bangladesh got locked into shackle of Islamology for decades. Even when Sheikh Mujibur’s daughter Sheikh Hasina came in power during 1996-2001, she was rather uncomfortable in touching this extremely ‘risky’ issue of making offensives on Mullahs and Islamic fanatics.

The situation was so much favorable to Islamic radicals and so-called political parties like Jamat-e-Islami, which continued to gain power and influence in Bangladeshi society for decades. Military dictator Ziaur Rehman opened the political window for Jamat-e-Islami by allowing its leader Gulam Azam in returning to Bangladesh and re-grouping his party under the ideology of Moulana Moududi.

Sayed Abul A’ala Moududi, mostly known as Moulana Moududi, hailing from Pakistan is the ideological father of Jamat-e-Islami and fanatic Islamic politics in the region. In 1941, Maududi founded Jamat-e-Islami (JI) in British India as a religious political movement to promote Islamic values and practices. JI was against the creation of Pakistan . Presented with a fait accompli after the Partition of India, JI was redefined in 1947 to support an Islamic State in Pakistan . JI is currently the oldest religious party in Pakistan .

With the Partition of India, JI split into several groups. The organisation headed by Maududi is now known as Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan . Also existing are Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Bangladesh Jamat-e-islami and autonomous groups in Indian Kashmir also in Sri Lanka . Maududi was elected Jamaat’s first Ameer (President) and remained so until 1972 when he withdrew from the responsibility for reasons of health.

Because Islam is all-encompassing, Maududi believed that the Islamic state should not be limited to just the "homeland of Islam". It is for all the world. ‘Jihad’ should be used to eliminate un-Islamic rule and establish this Islamic state:

Islam wishes to destroy all states and governments anywhere on the face of the earth which are opposed to the ideology and programme of Islam regardless of the country or the Nation which rules it. The purpose of Islam is to set up a state on the basis of its own ideology and programme, regardless of which nation assumes the role of the standard-bearer of Islam or the rule of which nation is undermined in the process of the establishment of an ideological Islamic State. Islam requires the earth—not just a portion, but the whole planet .... because the entire mankind should benefit from the ideology and welfare programme [of Islam] ... Towards this end, Islam wishes to press into service all forces which can bring about a revolution and a composite term for the use of all these forces is ‘Jihad’. .... the objective of the Islamic ‘ Jihād’ is to eliminate the rule of an un-Islamic system and establish in its stead an Islamic system of state rule.

He explained that Jihad was not only combat for God but all effort that helped those waging combat (Qita'al):

“In the jihad in the way of Allah, active combat is not always the role on the battlefield, nor can everyone fight in the front line. Just for one single battle preparations have often to be made for decades on end and the plans deeply laid, and while only some thousands fight in the front line there are behind them millions engaged in various tasks which, though small themselves, contribute directly to the supreme effort.”

In Bangladesh , during the war of independence in 1971, Jamat-e-Islami sided in favor of Pakistan and opposed to the liberation movement of Bengali people. For this reason, this party is greatly hated in Bangladesh , especially after the independence and creation of Bangladesh . But, Ziaur Rehman, who had intimate relations with Pakistan , allowed Gulam Azam in returning to Bangladesh and finally re-starting the stalled activities of Jamat in the country.

According to series of statistics and information, Jamat-e-Islami has already gained tremendous economic influence in Bangladesh with its known and unknown investments in hospitals, medical centers, diagnosis centers, banks, insurance companies, trading houses, newspapers, printing press, television channels etc, wherefrom not only the party earns millions of dollars every month, but thousands of Jamat members and recruits are employed in such ventures. Jamat also has established mosques and madrassas under the umbrella of Islamic Education Center, an organization mostly funded by Saudis and Arabs. By now, thousands of madrassas and mosques are already operating in Bangladesh under Jamat-e-Islami’s direction. These institutions and religious centers spread anti-Indian and anti-West venom in the Bangladeshi society, giving instigations to Jihad.

Now, the good news it, 3 ‘big fishes’ of Jamat-e-Islami in Bangladesh; its amir Moulana Motiur Rehman Nizami, its seceretary general Ali Ahsan Mujahid and its naeb-e-amir Moulana Delwar Hussain Sayeedi are now behind bar. They were arrested on June 29 by Bangladeshi law enforcing agencies and were put on 16-days remand for interrogation.

Bangladeshi government initially brought blasphemy charges against these leaders for insulting the prophet of Islam. Later more serious charges like sedition, murder, vandalism and rape were brought against all of them, for which they are now under police remand. Hopefully, Bangladeshi law enforcing agencies and intelligentsia will be able to extract important information from all of them, which is very much important for ensuring a secular Bangladesh .

Meanwhile, Indian channels are showing that Bangladeshi police are on offensives against Mullahs as well as anyone wearing Islamic cap or having beard. It may be debated that, everyone having beard and Islamic cap are now Jamat members or activists, but, for the sake of a maximum offensive on Jamat-e-Islami, it is extremely essential. One of the Indian television channels said, since the arrest of Jamat men and offensives on beard and Islamic cap, there is fear in the minds of people, who are not activists or members of this Islamic party. Many bearded people are seen refraining from attending prayers in the mosques.

I don’t encourage nabbing every one with Islamic cap and beard, but it is extremely important for Sheikh Hasina’s government to ensure a secular Bangladesh. Authorities in New Delhi should keep vigilant eyes on the entire situation and extend all out cooperation to the ruling government in Bangladesh, in case of any necessity.