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Hepazat-e-Islam’s long march in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is in turmoil with Qaumi Madrassa based radical organization Hepazat-e-Islam planning to seize the country with its plan for a Chittagong- Dhaka ‘long march’ on April 6 demanding,among other things, punishment to ‘atheist bloggers’ for defaming Islam. The situation has taken a serious turn as in a counter move 27 pro-liberation organizations including Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and Ganojagoron Mancha called a hartal on the same day. Hepazat-e-Islam replied with a threat to launch non- stop strike from the next day if its opponents’ hartal coinciding with its ‘long march’ is not called off. Such confrontational programmes have created grave concern and agony and the people have become apprehensive of more blood shed and chaos in the country. The BNP led 18 party alliance of which Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) is a constituent has also declared support for the Hepazat-e-Islam’s ‘long march’ programme.
Hepazat has emerged as the B-team of JEI and it has its roots in the Qaumi Madrassas in the country. Very little information is available about origin of the Hepazat except that it functions from the Qaumi Madrassas. There has been an unbridled growth of Qaumi Madrassas during the BNP-JEI regime (2001- 06) in Bangladesh. Many of these Madrassas have come to adverse notice for promoting Islamic militancy and Jihadi activities. A recent survey has revealed
establishment of Islamic militant camps in many of these Madrassas. These camps have international linkages and impart motivational and arms training to the youth to stage revolution for establishment of Islamic rule in the country.
Following declaration of the US-led war on terror that has been interpreted as war against Islam, these Madrassas are used to circulate audio and video cassettes eulogizing the al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar as ‘heroes of Islam’ and urging the students to emulate their subversive activities. Video clippings are also shown to the students depicting so-called torture on the Muslims in Kashmir, Gujarat and other places in India, as well as in Afghanistan and Iraq, to whip up their religious sentiments and they are also instigated to take
up arms to plunge headlong into jehad to ‘uphold Islam’. These madrassas also serve to generate anti-west, anti-India mind-set among the students.
The Qaumi Madrassas do not observe national days like ‘Independence Day’, ‘Victory Day’, ‘Language Martyrs Day’ and ‘Martyred Intellectuals Day’. In fact, opposing the liberation war or taking up arms against the freedom fighters in 1971 is even now glorified and considered a part of Jihad in these Madrassas. These institutions do not hoist National Flag on any occasion, nor are the students allowed to recite the National Anthem inside the Madrassa premises. In a recent
survey conducted by the Anthropology Department of Jahangir Nagar University, it has been found that students and teachers of these Madrassas are in favor of issuance of ‘fatwah’ by the cleric against women. They also have adverse and negative opinion about development programs launched by NGOs, freedom of press, family planning program, women empowerment, progress of women, female leadership, western education and Bengali language and Bengali culture which are perceived to be inhibiting growth of Islamic radicalism in the country. For the
present erosion of social values, they hold western education, modernism and women’s progress responsible.
Although the former BNP-JEI Government, before completing its tenure in 2006, decided to accord recognition to the degree accorded by Qaumi Madrassas, no further action has been taken to implement the decision so far. As a result, students passing out from these Qaumi Madrassas do not find employment anywhere except in mosques/madrassas and end up being cadres of Islamic militant groups including Hepazat and taking part in jihadi or subversive activities throughout the country and even outside, including Kashmir, Afghanistan and
Iraq. They were involved in almost all the Islam linked terrorist and disruptive activities including the country-wide synchronized bombing in 63 of the country’s 64 districts in 2005. They were also responsible for the advent of suicide bombers in Bangladesh demanding introduction of ‘Islamic laws’ in place of ‘man-made laws’.
International Islamic NGOs including the Kuwait based Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) whose bank accounts in Pakistan were seized following the 9/11 attack on ‘twin tower’, and Saudi based Al Harmain Islamic Foundation which was banned all over the world for its links with Al Qaeda and other international terrorist groups, were providing funds to these Qaumi Madrassas. Other Islamic NGOs which have come to notice in this regard include Al Fujeira of UAE, Saudi based Rabeta al Alam al Islami and International Islamic Relief Organisation (IIRO). Students are given many incentives such as free food, lodging and education in these Madrassas and their guardians, mostly poor and devout Muslims, are persuaded to send their wards to these adrassas with promises of a renaissance through Islam.
Wide network of these Madrassas not only provides fertile recruitment grounds for Jihadis but also serve as training centers for cadres of many Islamic militant groups. These madrassas impart arms training to the students at night to evade detection by security forces. Some training camps have also been set up by these madrassas in the inaccessible hills and dense forests in Chittagong Hill Tracts, beyond reach of the law enforcers. The militant groups imparting training
to the youth in these Madrassas are known to have a large stock of sophisticated arms and ammunition. Even leaders of militant Islamic groups from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Middle East frequently visit these madrassas. Short listed students are also sent to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Middle East countries for advance training.
Hundreds and thousands of the Qaumi madrassa students remain active in staging demonstrations across the country to enforce shut-downs in the country in response to calls by their mentors in BNP or JEI. Bangladesh media also reported that students of Qaumi Madrassas were made to join most of the anti-government demonstrations by the opposition.
