Seditious Jamaat Shibir

 In democracy the opposition parties have right to stage demonstrations to protest against the government’s policies. They can bring no-confidence motion in the parliament and dislodge the government. Outside the parliament also, they can organize movements on roads against the government. If such movements are peaceful and based on genuine demands, people also come forward to extend support and compel the government to resign. In stead of following this course, Jamaat Shibir and their alliance partners have chosen the path that may be called seditious.

Since the liberation war in 1971, Jamaat has all along been engaged in anti-state activities. Now the Jamaat cadres have unleashed violence on a large scale to create pressure on the government to abandon the ongoing war crimes trials. Entire top brass of Jamaat leadership will be convicted on war crimes charges if these trials are brought to a logical end.

Jamaat’s founder leader Maulana Maududi’s death sentence was waived in 1952 due to Saudi intervention. Jamaat Shibir workers are now resorting to mindless violence. What is really sad is that the BNP leader Khaleda Zia who was two times former Prime Minister of the country has extended her party’s support to the ongoing violence adding that her objective was to immobilize the government in this way.

People at large are at the receiving end of this senseless violence, killing, bloodshed and chaos. It is they who have to sacrifice life. No religion preaches killing people. In fact killing is a crime against humanity. How long will killing continue in this country?

Jamaat is known for its opposition to Bangladesh’s liberation. Even now the organization is against Bangladesh’s independence. When people of the country assembled to pay homage to the martyrs and freedom fighters on March 25 the Jamaat workers gave a call for hartal and detonated bombs. Their alliance partner BNP was also with them. Whither is the country moving and who is responsible for this? All these issues will have to be resolved by the people of the country once and for all.