Bangladesh: Hefazat-e-Islam and militancy

M A Hossain

Hefazat-e-Islam(HI) in Bangladesh was established in 2010 as a countermeasure to thwart the enactment of the Women's Development Policy Bill that proposed equal inheritance rights to women. Hefazat-e-Islam, which means"protector of Islam" claims itself to be an apolitical organisation predicating on the hypothesis that they do not take part in the national electoral politics; however, quite the contrary, it has emerged as an important Dramatis Personae in Bangladeshi politics because of the present political context. This organisation is based on nationwide Qawmi Madrasas which is teaching and preaching Orthodox Islam. It has become the centre of attention of major political parties to materialise their interests from its heyday at Shapla Chattar in 2013. Due to my professional reason, I was well aware of this platform and I will dissect its reasons to crash in 2021.

First of all, the question may arise as to why this self-proclaimed non-political Islamist organisation has become so important an actor in the political arena. There may be many minds. But in my opinion, history and present geopolitical trends are some of the key factors to appease this Islamist organisation by major political parties. Historically, Qawmi based organisations were here from the British era. Every time they formed a platform on a particular issue, their stand somehow was at odds with the Islamic culture. We have seen Ulemas influencing the Bangalees to travel to fight against the British in favour of the Ottoman Empire which is known as"Khelafat Andolon". In 1920, there was a movement named "Hizrat Andolon" in favour of the Afghanistan emirate. In the post-independence era in Bangladesh, we have seen protests against Dawd Haider(1974), Taslima Nasrin(1994), Khatme Nabuwat Andolon(2003) and the emergence of HI with 13 point demands at the latest in 2013. In retrospect, we see that every movement of the Islamist party in the past was mostly successful which makes them stronger and competent. And consequently, with their apparent success and increasing popularity to the mass people, they continued to assume a non-political and issue-based character in favour of Islamic interest.

Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country(90%) where religion is a very influential factor in any national consensus. More so, at present, we can see the rise of right-wing populism, ultra-nationalist, radical parties around the world. Our neighbour's "Hindutva" paved the way for rising Islamist organisations vibrantly in Bangladesh. The secular Bangladesh Awami League(AL) government has to compromise their ideology to safeguard its political survival. Before the AL- HI pact, the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP)- Allied always labelled itself as a pro-Islamic party and secular AL as an anti-Islamic party. But, after the 2008 election, the ruling party created a highly uneven playing field in politics, which shows extreme intolerance to the opposition's political activities and the extensive onslaughts on Democratic institutions. Not only AL tried to weaken their Islamist contenders by co-opting rival Islamic actors but also maligned their political opponents and aligned Islamist parties as promoting the "wrong" or "extremist" version of Islam. In such a political context, the ruling party tricked to save the vote banks against the anti-Islamic brand. They strengthened relations ostensibly with HI to appear as a pro-Islamic party. There may be another reason, either political failure of oppositions (BNP-Allied) or (Semi)-authoritarian rule causes a vacuum in the political field in Bangladesh. That is why the ruling party needs to accommodate an influential population on their side to deny political space to the BNP- Allied oppositions.

Nevertheless, AL, in the last decade, did it successfully with its political acumen. Burning examples are, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was awarded 'Qawmi mother', the government asked bloggers to refrain from criticising Islam, madrasa certificates were upgraded with regular education, removal of atheist poems from the textbooks etc. To appease the Islamist organisations for political survival is a common phenomenon in the history of Bangladesh and this sub-continent. The attempt to use Islamisation as an authoritarian legislation strategy was followed by President Ziaul Haq, General Zia, General Ershad. During the Democratic regime, Begum Khaleda Zia relied on Jamat-e- Islam(JeI) in 2001-2008 and AL also followed in 1996 (movement for establishing caretaker government) and in 2019, with HI in the condition not to pass any anti-Islamic law.

HI has a strong and dedicated mass gathering capacity which makes it a gambit of street power politics. The death of HI supremo Ahmed Shafi has brought the power tussle for succession between Anas Madani and Junayed Babunagari in 2020. This power crisis paved the way to get the opportunity for the inclusion of militant outfits at the executive level. In my observation, Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh(JMB) and Neo-JMB(Followers of IS ideology) do not have any affiliation with HI. HI is a strict follower of 'Hanafi Majhab' where Neo-JMB and JMB follow 'Salafi Ideology' and 'Ahle Hadith' respectively. These trios have a stark uncompromising attitude and acceptance towards each other because of their different types of methodical ideologies(manhaj). On the other hand, Harkat-ul-Jihad-ul-Islami(HUJI), Ansar Al Islam and JeI all have infiltrated in HI. Among these trios, HUJI could able to manage some top posts in HI from where they influenced the decision-making process. Some HI scholars and preachers have ties with Ansar Al Islam which follow the ideology of Al-Qaeda(AQ). But from the very beginning, Ansar Al Islam was confused about the Aqida(mandatory rites) of HI which is related to Al-Wala-Al- Bara(love and hate only for the sake of Allah) and has not clarified by HI. More so, Ansar Al Islam was embarrassed by the activities of HI like appeasing government, crass political willingness, mayhem on 26-28 March 2021 which it considers an un-Islamic and strict violation of Islamic law. Hence, they started distancing with HI.

Now, HUJI has been gradually embarking on as the decision-making authority in HI. We need to remember that both HUJI and HI are solely based on Qawmi madrasas. In madrasas' education system, followers (students) are unreasonably and blindly attached to their 'Ostad' (teachers). So, madrasas' teachers are the backbone of HUJI and HI who trapped Babunagari. Some HI leaders have linkage with JeI. All the militant groups have different types of methods(manhaj) to establish Islam. At present, HUJI, HI and JeI have the similar methodical approach towards the Democratic system, but all other militant groups completely reject it and consider the present Democratic system as the deviation of Sharia(Islamic) rule.

Now both HUJI and Jel have a serious lack of political shrewdness and maturity to take on an organisation as resourceful and efficient in political manoeuvring. HUJI has some Afghan(returnees) fighters who might have linkage with the Taliban. With the success of the Taliban in Afghanistan, HUJI gets a boast and considers them as the only successor to lead the Islamist party or movement in Bangladesh.  But they are in fool's Paradise, Bangladesh is not Afghanistan or Pakistan. Taliban is not the global organisation where AQ is the main driving force behind it. So, after establishing the Islamic Emirates in Afghanistan, due to UN mandate, a state can not sponsor any subversive activities against any nation. So, AQ can only have the scope to support any augmentation to establish an Islamic emirate in any country in the world.  JeI had the only motive to create anarchy in the country and put the government under pressure so that government takes the hard line which would pave the way to get the opportunity to do politics and gain political space. So, their immature attempt to get the state power under the facade of Islamic flavour crashed in a deep hole.

AL as the ruling party exhibited its political acumen to handle this HI issue. Bangladesh's espionage agencies and law enforcement agencies have timely taken the appropriate actions against HI. The government now will follow the 'carrot and stick' policy and will bag HI on their side, keeping Babunagari at the forefront of non-political Hefazat-e-Islam in Bangladesh.

This article published at:

1. The Seoul Times, S Korea,12May21

2. Kashmir Watch, EU,10May21

3. Review Nepal, Kathmandu, 12May21

Turkey's emergence as the global power.

M A Hossain

The changing dynamics of globalisation, post-Cold War era, has brought forth systemic changes shifting the centres of power. In the 21st century, the Western world is gradually losing its appeal, which is arguably being replaced by the new international system for the erosion of the principles of sovereignty, territorial, non-intervention, the increasing importance of human rights and democracy. Amid this chaotic transformation, Turkey has gradually emerged as one of the leading global powers, when it unfailingly exposed the hawkish policy on the Middle East(ME), the Caucasus, the Balkans even in Sub Sahara and Latin America. Turkish role as a regional power has been increased undeniably in many folds, since the Justice and Development Party(AKP) came to power. AKP's stern and occasionally aggressive leadership did not only aspire Turkey to be exalted as one of the dramatis personae in the race of not only in the regional power but also globally. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan does not miss out on the chance to either proclaim his nation as a Muslim religious soft power. He also has, in recent years, brazenly assumed the role of 'Big Brother' of the Sunni Muslims all over the World. Turkey, under the auspices of its multidimensional foreign policies, has been making a significant contribution to global peace and security as well as to its regional stability with the concept of 'regional responsibility'. 

The core strength behind Turkey's rise is active engagement in foreign policy and her strong economy. Her ambitious strategic foreign policy is centred on three pivots. These are the transformation towards blue water force, the army's expeditionary warfare concept of growing tendencies of creating proxy war agents in various battlegrounds from North Africa to the Levant, expanding forward military bases in its area of influence globally. Turkey has been enjoying a considerable degree of soft power in its region comprising the Balkan, Central Asia, Caucasus and ME.

Mr. Erdogan has adapted the 'zero problems' policy to his neighbours and conducively, the European Union(EU) has no other option but to stand in harmony with the new reality of the present scenario, which is drastically different from the condition prevalent two decades ago. At present, Turkey has the 2nd largest army in NATO and the 8th largest army in the world power. By 2023, Turkey's economy will be within the top 10 as per the prediction of the International Monetary Fund(IMF) and their armed forces rely on its stronger defence industry. The Balkan region is propped up by Turkey for the maintenance of regional peace and stability via trilateral consultation mechanisms including Turkey — Bosnia and Herzegovina — Serbia and Turkey — Bosnia — Croatia. Turkey is interlocked by the EU and Asia. It is neither a member of the EU nor a part of Asia. But both the continents have deep-rooted relations with Turkey and hence, there is no denying that Turkey, as a country, is bridging the EU and Asia.

In Central Asia, the common ethnic, cultural, historical, linguistic ties are shared by Turkish people. The latest geopolitical triumph with Azerbaijan's Turkish backed victory in Nagorno-Karabakh is already producing tangible results. Azerbaijan agreed with Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to develop the 'Lapis Lazuli' transport corridor that would link the war-ravaged country to Turkey and also facilitate the transit hub of the Caucasian nations. Turkey has deep-rooted historical and cultural ties with the Caucasus. It has been investing in its geopolitical and geo-cultural position by taking a leading role in the establishment of regional organisations — opening dozens of new embassies and consulates particularly in Africa and the Middle East. As a democratic and secular State, Turkey has justifiably become the role model for the Muslim world, especially the ME. Mr. Erdogan is trying to establish Turkey as a "Protector" for Sunni Muslims all over the World. Turkey is repeatedly reiterating its support for Pakistan in the Kashmir dispute where Saudi dominated Organisation of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) failed to raise the issue towards the International arena. The First Lady of Turkey was the first in time among any foreign high profile figure to visit Bangladesh to show her solidarity for the Rohingya crisis. Saudi Arabia has been enjoying by default soft power over the Sunni Muslim's world just because the two holiest places are situated there. But the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul could pave the way for restructuring the soft power order favouring Turkey. Turkish drones loitering in Syrian airspace, operation "Olive Branch" in Syria against Kurdish militia, navy frigates along with the Libyan coast, the presence of Turkish military advisors in Tripoli and Qatar as well as Turkish Mountain commandos expedition in Northern Iraq are signalling the hard power doctrine policy.

Turkey has strong strategic cooperative relations with China. Ankara has initiated a nuclear program with the help of Beijing and launched her first military satellite from the Gobi Desert in China. Turkey — China both ways trade valued $24.1 billion. Ankara is very much cautious and made a balanced policy against Uighur's issue. Japan and Korea have strong economic relations with Turkey. According to the Turkish Ministry of economy in 2013, a total of 166 Japanese companies have stupendous investments in Turkey.

Pakistan enjoys the Turkish defence cooperation for India-Greece strong diplomatic relations. The dispute between Turkey and Greece over oil and gas exploration in the East Mediterranean region and the India-Pakistan conflict over the Kashmir dispute have paved the way for cooperation between the two Sunni Muslim states. Defying Western red-eye, Ankara has increased her strong trade and defence cooperation with Russia. Ignoring the US sanctions, Ankara is purchasing the S-400 Air-Defence system from Russia.

Day by day, Turkey is increasing its influences over sub-Saharan and Latin America. Ankara is assisting Sunni extremists in Somalia and has significantly increased her relations with the countries of the Horn of Africa through economic and trade agreements and emergency aid.

Ankara rightfully takes pride in its policies that prioritise humanitarian concerns. In recent years, Turkey has become a leading actor in the field of humanitarian diplomacy ranking as the 2nd largest donor country after the US. During the tsunami disaster(2004), the AKP government first responded with humanitarian aid to the affected nations. At present, Turkey is the top nation to provide shelter for refugees from neighbours.

Turkey's ambitions to increase its global influence in the post-Cold War era and willingness to play a greater role in regional and global governance have attracted considerable academic attention. Mr Erdogan clearly and concisely expressed his neo-Ottoman and pan Islamist visions to renew the ascension of the old Turkish empire and to rejuvenate Turkey to its former glory.

This article published at:

1. The Independent, Bangladesh :21Mar,21

2. Review Nepal, Nepal :20Mar21

3. The Seoul Times,S.Korea:22Mar21

Opportunity looms over Rohingya repatriation

M A Hossain

The collapse of power-sharing co-existence between the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) and Aung San Suu Kyi at the helm of democratisation in Myanmar has recently upended to the direction of massive setback. The military refused to acknowledge the result of the General Election, held on November 8, 2020, and declared a state of emergency, announcing that it would govern the country for one year, after which it promised to initiate a fresh election. This scenario was anticipated well in advance by the political pundits. Now Myanmar's political volatility threatens the repatriation process of Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh, but the military has a track record of taking back the Rohingya in 1978 and 1992 from Bangladesh. No doubt, this time Myanmar military will utilize the repatriation as an opportunity for softening the International opprobrium as well as to gain dominance in the geopolitical context.

In the walk of democratization, the Myanmar military had always control over the key Ministries. In 2020, Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) proposed dozens of constitutional amendments to curb the military's encroachment in Government decisions. This intervention by Suu Kyi did not curry favour with the top military brass and this was conducive to deterrence upon Suu Kyi from assuming the office on February 01, 2021, as the country's 2nd consecutive term de facto leader. Another matter, which directly attributed to this political depredation, was perhaps the insatiable political ambition of General Min Aung Hlaing. As a Commander In Chief, his 2nd five years’ term was about to come to an end, paving for his mandatory retirement. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the unelected military parliamentarians could not attain the magic figure seats in the last Parliamentary election which could have elected him as the President. It would help him to avert prosecution for genocide on Rohingya and protect the interest of the oligarchs of the country.

Mrs Suu Kyi is unfailingly popular and known as” the Lady” to the Buddhist majority in her country. This Buddhist ethnic group does not recognize the Rohingya as their citizens. Suu Kyi's international reputation was damaged after she implicitly endorsed the majority view in Myanmar that the Rohingya were “interloper” from Bangladesh rather than an ethnic minority. But historically, the Rohingya are the original citizens of Arakan (the former name of Rakhine). A total of eleven Muslim kings successively ruled Arakan for a century from 1430 to1530. There is a well-founded proof of the historic presence of Rohingya in Arakan since the 7th century. According to the historical records from the British period up to the 2010 election, there were Muslim participants in all Myanmar's parliamentary elections and this Rohingya Muslims served the nation as lawmakers as well as Ministers. So the ethnic-confrontation is the pro-long unresolved issue in Myanmar. In retrospect, Muslims minorities also faced atrocities for long and those persecuted group took shelter in the neighbouring Bangladesh, India and Thailand and were subsequently repatriated to their motherland.

Since 2017, Bangladesh has been hosting more than one million Rohingya refugees in the country's southern part in Cox's Bazaar, which is also the country's main tourist hub due to the world's longest sea beach being located there. This huge number of refugees, with crammed makeshift settlements in that area, also put a drastically adverse impact upon the socio-economic and ecological infrastructure of the said area. So, it is imperative that our diplomatic acumen efforts should shed light on the Rohingya repatriation issue to the International eyes.

We have to consider the Sino-US and Sino-Indo relations in the context of global superpower rivalry. Bangladesh, among the Delta states in South Asia, is bearing the utmost importance related to geopolitics. So Rohingya repatriation became the burgeoning issue to lean towards China bloc. China always reiterated this Rohingya issue as bilateral engagement and showed restraint to any third actor's intercession, especially the meddling of the Western countries. Beijing provided the economic and diplomatic lifeline to the previous military regime in exchange for access to natural resources and abundant political influence on Naypyidaw. Today, China is the 2nd highest investor in Myanmar. Moreover, the Myanmar military regime is well acquainted with international sanctions.

On the other hand, India invested a huge amount of fund in Myanmar and has provided a submarine to the Myanmar navy. New Delhi is also a development partner to Naypyidaw. Here lies the real diplomacy for Bangladesh.

Today, China is one of the most important development partners for Bangladesh and is also now working on many mega projects. India is Bangladesh's biggest and most influential neighbor and has assured Bangladesh to stand in favor of Dhaka in Rohingya repatriation issue. India is now enjoying transit, transhipment and seaport facilities from Bangladesh. So Dhaka should put New Delhi in a diplomatic obligation to convince Naypyidaw to take back its people from Bangladesh's refugee camps. China has also offered to help these two countries to find a solution, beginning with a tripartite meeting in New York in January 2020. The China-Bangladesh-Myanmar meeting was chaired by the Chinese vice foreign minister Luo Zhaohui, which paved the way to hold both sides to account for their respective commitments to each other. 

Now Bangladesh needs strong and high-profile delegates to persuade the present government in Myanmar to get the Rohingya repatriated. This delegation must accelerate diplomatic efforts as well as push the International community to take proactive measures against Myanmar. Our diplomatic mission now needs to be more vigilant in discussions and processes with the new government and convinces China leadership in pushing the Tatmadaw to not only take back its people but also to ensure their due rights as a citizen with dignity and safety.

This article published at:

1. The New Nation;Bangladesh :17Feb 21

2. The Dhaka Post,Bangladesh :17Feb 21

3. The Seoul Times, S Korea: 17Feb 21

4. Kashmir Watch,EU, 17Feb 21

5. review Nepal, Nepal :18Feb 21

Pompeo's Al-Qaeda conspiracy and Bangladesh

M A Hossain

In a recent speech at the US National Press Club, the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, made a claim that Iran is the 'new Afghanistan' for Al-Qaeda (AQ) militants’. This outrageously gratuitous claim was a quintessential example of the servile attitude by a bevvy of sycophants of conspiracy theorists. By all means, and especially after the incident in Capitol Hill, it would be unwise to term either Donald Trump or Mike Pompeo as the epitome of democracy, rather they are the mere puppets of Jewish lobbyists, weapon dealers who divided the World and created division in the society just to sell their arms. Some analysts may have termed Pompeo's hyperbole about Al-Qaeda as his analytic conclusions; but in all fairness, it was not based on the US intelligence. This could possibly have been scripted by their patrons of “Israel first” Middle East policy. So in this juncture, why does Bangladesh get tantamount importance to them? In this narrative, I will try to unmask the relation between Al-Qaeda conspiracy and Bangladesh.

First, the allegation of Iran Al-Qaeda tie rings hollow, to say the least. Iran and AQ are ideological foes. Iran, the former Persian heavyweight, is guided by Shia Islam; whereas, AQ is inspired and imbued with Sunni Islam and dominated by Salafi Arabs. I may take the liberty of reminding my readers an adage, quite popular during Hilary Clinton era- “if you don't listen to America, you will find democracy in your country”. The flagrant examples are the Arab Spring, Afghan, Libya, Iraq war. 

Accordingly, under the auspices of Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) adopted in 2001, the US forces are allowed to strike on AQ anywhere in the world. The AUMF authorizes the President of the US to use force against any nation, organization or person, whom he considers liable to aid in planning, authorizing, committing and/or aiding the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbouring such organizations or persons. So quite conveniently for Donald Trump that should he succeed in tagging Iran as the host nation of AQ, it will be an easy task to order a strike against Iran. Mr. Trump does not care about democracy; he only hails the interests of Jewish businessmen and lobbyists. Iran is not an imminent threat to the USA, but it poses a severe threat to Israel. So Pompeo's assertion can only be seen as a strain on the US-Iran relationship, where the Biden administrations mull revising the "hawkish policy" on Iran. Mr Trump is gagged for his dangerous and disastrous rhetoric. So the duty is comprehendingly performed by his cohort, which appears to be a frantic last-ditch attempt to further the destructive intention of Israel's foes. There was no substantial evidence of Pompeo's statement rather clear confession of target killing.

There have been records where Iran played a reversal, even hostile, role against AQ. Iran has supported anti-Qaeda allies in Afghanistan, detained and deported members of AQ who crossed the border and entered in Iran. It is also worth noting that the veracity of the claims on Iran's tie with AQ has been contested domestically by the CIA and the US Congress. Pompeo's latest conspiracy theory of Iran will sow further division at home as well.

Second, where is the nexus between Bangladesh and AQ conspiracy theory? Again, I want to remind some incidents to my readers. The first visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in India, his Indian counterpart hailed, “I(Israel) for I(India)” at the grand reception in the airport. Another incident, 'Howdy Modi' a presidential election campaign for Trump was organized by Indian PM Narendra Modi breaking all the diplomatic norms. Israel and India have special bilateral relations and defence pacts. Both nations have the same goal against a particular religion.

Now, Bangladesh has immense importance in geopolitics. India's integrality largely depends on the attitude of Bangladesh. So in South Asia, Bangladesh gets the highest priority at the south bloc in New Delhi. Delhi got almost all the privileges from Bangladesh where in return it disappointed Dhaka, and that is why the Government of Bangladesh feels the pressure from inside to prioritize development partners. China came forward with the assistance of billions of dollars which irked New Delhi. India sought help from its strategic partner Israel to disintegrate Bangladesh from China bloc. To put Bangladesh in pressure, Pompeo's statement is more than enough; though, Dhaka, in its most scintillating effort, did not waste a moment to debunk Pompeo's misinformative and fabricated representation of Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi Premier Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated “zero tolerance” against all kinds of extremism and violence. To curb the militancy, Bangladesh is the role model and factually Hasina's Government deserves the recognition globally. Notwithstanding, some petty journalists have been writing of the presence of AQ in Bangladesh in their tabloids. A Hindu retired major in a Bangla daily is continuously writing favouring the interest of India. It is unprecedented and unbecoming of an Army Official, since the country comes first to any man in uniform. The Government must neutralize and forestall these sorts of propagandists and hold them on the account. The notion of freedom of expression does not give a carte blanche to play with the interest of my country. If these publications are not adequately answered, then one fine morning we may hear the echoing of statements like Pompeo’s.

In my opinion, the way Israel planned the policy to “hit the belly of the crocodile” in the Middle East, the same way arranged for their strategic partner to mount pressure on Bangladesh. If India can prove her 'Big brotherly' attitude or 'Neighborhood First' policy than Bangladesh will have no option to surrender to India's dictations. But this is a fictitious, hypothetical theory, we all know espionage agency can control some politicians but not public, they can infiltrate in administration but not admiration for any nation. 

Both Bangladesh and Iran have accused Pompeo of his disastrous and frustrating lies. But in global and regional contexts, conspiracy theories are a common phenomenon. If the country is united and uprooted the abettors of foreign conspirators than nothing to worry.

 This article published at:

1. Kashmir watch,20 Jan 21

2. Review Nepal, Nepal, 20 Jan21

3. The Seoul Times , South Korea,23Jan21

4. The New Nation , Bangladesh : 23Jan21

Sculpture, ignorance and chaos

M A Hossain

In the past few months, Bangladesh has been going through an imbroglio regarding the installation of statues. Numerous articles were published on this issue but most of these were apparently partisans to their own ideologies. A number of Islamic scholars lambasted on erecting statues in the country, which eventually became conducive to the extent of damaging and defacing of some statues that put the ruling party in an uncomfortable position. Some left-leaning leaders and progressive activists were vibrant against these Islamic groups in both electronic and print media. These agitations of both sides made me embark on writing this article to preach the true lessons of Islam. I will try to dissect the deeds of the belligerents on this Statue issue, with a bid to demonstrate the situation, which I hope my readers will find comprehensive.

Bangladesh is a secular country. At present, Bangladesh can be exemplified as a role model about the atmosphere of communal harmony to the world. Though some sporadic incidents may have had come to the limelight in the recent past, those were either exaggerated or concocted, or galvanised by the foreign actors. As per the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, secularism is one of the Fundamental Principles of the Constitution. Therefore, the installation of any statue/sculpture is not unconstitutional. The way our Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina dealt with the issue demonstrated the political acumen of her decision-making. Needless to say, Bangladesh Awami League and the Government have defused this sculpture spark very smartly. Then the question remains as to what was wrong and why did it hurt our Muslim community?

First, the exaggeration and excessive rants against Islam by non- befitting individuals made Bangladeshi Muslims felt disappointed and betrayed. It is not expected that a renowned communist leader (Now an ally with a Democratic Party!) should teach Islam to the Nation. Another progressive intellectual came up with his crass analysis of the Quran and this gentleman legalized lifelike sculpture in Islam high highhandedly, and he substantiated his logic with the word 'Tamasil' from the Quran. I may take the liberty to correct him that 'Tamasil' means resemble of lifeless things and possibly he amalgamated with the Arabic word 'Sanam (pl-Asnam)’ which means resemble of the lifelike creature.

Second, speeches and languages of a few Islamic scholars do not commensurate with the teachings of Islam. In Qur'an, it is said that you invite (mankind) to the way of your Lord with wisdom, kind advice and argue with them in the most kindly manner. According to Bukhari Hadith, one is best to Allah whose character is best. Two Islamist parties have threatened and demanded the Government not to install any sculpture or idol. Apparently, it may appear to be an Islamic step but in fact, such pretentious action triggered an ominous flaw to the belief of Muslims and gravely hurt the Muslim practitioners and scholars. 

In retrospect, Islam in Bangladesh was more prone to Persian “Sufism” than the original Islam emerged in Arab. Again, it was also biased and infiltrated by the pre-practised local cultures. All these malpractices occurred due to the lack of communications. That's why we see the shrine culture, non-Islamic superstitions, dogmatisms etc. At times our excessive respect reaches to a worshipping level. In South Asia, it has remained a practising culture. We can see, a portrait of Donald Trump was worshipped by some Indian Hindus before the presidential election. So as a Muslim, we must acquire the true knowledge of Islam that could save us from all confrontations and confusion. Right now, vandalisation of statues in Bangladesh was not a wise Islamic performance. It is a clear breach of prevailing laws. Our Islamic scholars must remember that the dialogues used in the battlefield are not the same as in Waz-Mehfils (public gatherings). 

Islam shows a straight-forward and unvarnished way to surrender to the Almighty. It doesn't allow any alternative or skewed way from His Messenger, Mohammad(SM). In my opinion, Bangladeshi Islamist groups didn't follow the way (Sunnah) of our Prophet(SM). Islamic laws or Sharia laws only can accentuate to destroy the lifelike idols/sculptures. We must remember, our Prophet(SM) destroyed the idols after he conquered and established Islam in Mecca. Before that, he didn't show any fanatical activities but preached against non-Islamic idol worshipping.

In several articles by a doyen Bangladeshi leftist leader and a few mediocre Awami League leaders tried to politicize this issue. They chanted that our Ulems/Ulamas are performing an agenda to make Bangladesh integrate to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. A Minister of Bangladesh Government tried to cover the fact as fig leaf that vandalization of two sculptures in Kustia was committed by the same actor. People of Bangladesh should remain alert against the chaotic situation backed by foreign actors. Bangladeshi Islamic scholars must not entrap themselves to be a pawn of conspiracy. Our ignorance has the remedy but incompetence to understand the machination has no remission. Our politicians must stop unnecessary tattling. 

Pakistan is neither an Islamic country nor a role model country. Even Pakistan wants to be like Bangladesh nowadays. In Kustia, one of the vandalisation was done by the ruling party men. Samuel Huntington in his article, "The clash of civilization” predicted a successful theory that the 21st century would experience a confrontation between the Islamist and the West. So the conspiracy against a Muslim majority country like Bangladesh should not be washed off with the spat of fingertips. The way Islam resurrects in Bangladesh, it's obvious a global Islamist force already has established their footholds here. 

In the bottom line, there is no scope of installing lifelike idols/sculptures under the Islamic Emirates or Sharia Law. Because during Judgment Day, the sculptor would be asked to give life to those sculptures which he created in his life. Very often, our secular leaders or intellectuals are referring to some Muslim majority countries to legalize life-like sculptures but that is not right. Islam does not belong to any specific country or political party; rather the greatness of Islam lies in the performance in compliance with the Quran and Sunnah, globally and collectively. That is the beauty of Islam. 

This article published at:

1. Kashmir watch, 28 Dec 20

2. Review Nepal : 29Dec 20

Enough educated but very less 'well-educated'

M A Hossain

On 28 November '20, a 17 days old infant's dead body was found in the pond at Bagerhat in Bangladesh. Latter on police arrested the parent in connection to such bone-chilling incident and primarily parent confessed about their involvement to the police. Media became vibrant to criminalize this poor parent. But that's not the dead-end of this story. The parent is very poor and the infant was suffering from severe cardiac and kidney problems. It was going almost beyond to do anything further for their beloved child(radio today, 89.6fm). Now, I will share two of my personal experiences with my readers.

Due to my professional reason, I was posted at outskirts of Dhaka. On my daughter's 2nd birthday party, I was well-clad and ready to receive my guests. Suddenly, I got a phone call from my superior officer to attend a complainant who was an ex-senior bureaucrat. With my all throes, I went to my office and found an elderly couple waiting for me. I was battling inside me to remain calm and tried to forget the disturbance of my personal program after all I paid from their taxes. The woman first opened up and unabashedly told me,” baba! Amar chele ke crossfire dete hobe (Oh dear! Kill my son in the crossfire.)”. Her husband was beside her and stayed mum. Being a father, I was missing my daughter's birthday party that was rampaging inside me and after hearing these sorts of appeal or complaint could only stoke more. Possibly the gargantuan anger made me pile and I forgot everything for a moment. I just smiled and said, “what you've said is not what it is. Tell me what happened and how can I help you?” The husband started talking now and said that they had a son and a daughter. In a nutshell, the son became addicted, and they spent all the money to cure him but miserably failed and last they had only 6stored building in town. The unfortunate son physically assaulted them and forced them out from their own house. Their only daughter was a college student. They could not share this apocalypse with anyone due to social opprobrium.

Second, a small plastic particle was stuck inside the nose of my one-year aged daughter while playing. We rushed to a private clinic. I avoided my credentials not to puzzle the local staffs but I introduced my wife(as she is a physician) and got the emergency visit to an ENT specialist. The doctor instructed us to hold the baby tightly. A blood-curdling shock enshrouded in the face of my little angel for our strange approach and grabbed her all the loose limbs of her body. The doctor used a nasal forceps and brought out the foreign particle. While doing so, my daughter trembled with her head though it was grabbed by her physician mother and it made a disturbance to the operating doc. After the small operation, the doctor vented his anger and resentment on me for the failure of silly responsibility though I was not responsible for. I imbibed all his bullshits as my little angel was out of danger again I was cautious about my covert staffs who all were deployed for my security that whether did something else for the sake of their commander's honour. The doc was totally ignorant about my acquaintance and after finishing the formalities we were ready to embark on our journey home. But I saw that my wife was a bit frustrated. To make the situation light, I said, “forget it, when I did a commando course, instructors used to swoop on us wielding sticks, that poor doctor did nothing just to vent his anger on me.” When our vehicle started moving my wife broke her silence and replied,” I did dissect so many corpses, so many surgical operations, even my hands never shivered but when I saw my daughter, my hands refused and shivered. Sorry for everything”. The vehicle kept on moving, meant alright, but not my wife internally — though I replied with a smile.

Apparently, it seems the parent of slain Sohana committed a crime but there is something left behind. Already it became a subjudice matter. Those farmers who all were set them on fire in India or the French student set himself on fire are also a crime because as per law no one can take his or her life at his or her own. But, there was a message behind all these crimes(!)which strongly demanded to be addressed. If the baby would alive, what could be happened? Does the baby come under health insurance coverage? Do we really care about others in our society at present? How far can the mammoth expenditure go on with donations? How long would they bare of tremendous hardship and struggle of their daughter? Perhaps, a mixed answer is there but don't antagonize me as an abettor of such crime!. It's our collective failure, and they didn't show love and respect to the daughter. To me, the best came to their mind they did because the poor parent was not able to carry on such expensive treatment nor the government would take the responsibility as in Austria, a family ran 27 years-long lawsuits against the state to remove the oxygen ventilator and made their moribund daughter rest eternally.

In my opinion, it would be better if we consider them with sympathy and let not magnify their shortcomings with criminologic lens. The root cause of this type of crime was the lack of confidence in social security and values. On a religious point of view, it's a crime, and they would be asked specifically about this deed. So we must draw a line here and revive our social and religious values that we must not lose our confidence collectively as a nation. We have enough educated people but very less 'well-educated'. A human being never comes to the earth as a criminal but social imbalance, power or cupidity makes s/he a criminal. If good governance and social security are the sole responsibility of government then we also have responsibility for social values and social discontent. Otherwise, our millions of A+ or wealthy men will be useless in need of 'humanely human being'. Let the hands of parents shiver to commit such heinous act again. At present, the government is coming forward to eradicate social stigma and creating social awareness. Let us all realize the Khalil Gibran's tribute” they come through you but not from you, And though they with you — yet they belong not to you.” 

This article published at:

1. The New Nation, Bangladesh:11 Dec '20

Is democracy losing steam globally?

M A Hossain

There is no room for adopting any self-styled democracy by replacing the theory of Abraham Lincoln's democracy. In today's world, we hear from some rulers that development is more important than democracy. As if the so-called development is unimpeded and not subject to any retardation; and as if nothing can hold back any country's growth and development despite corruption and violation of human rights. Those who are trying to replace democracy with the so-called development or self-styled democracy actually are pushing the nation under a brutal autocracy.

During the sudden emergence of the Arab Spring, lots of political pundits expressed uncontrolled delight stating, this was the last episode of dictatorial regimes and autocratic monarchism in the Arab world. But the last result of this 'spring has visibly turned into a disgusting thunderstorm. Look into Libya. Following the demise of Gaddafi, this country under the madness of Democratization has finally turned into one of the epicentres of religious extremism and terrorism. Should there be Saddam Hussein in Iraq, most possibly the emergence of Islamic State was a mission impossible!

The architect of the Arab spring most definitely failed in assessing the socio-political atmosphere in the Arab world. They messed up the Arab world with western realities. They didn't understand, while democracy could be a feasible formula for the US and the West and even some Afro-Asian nations, it simply is unworkable in China, DPR of Korea(North Korea), Cuba, Russia and some other countries.

If we look into Myanmar, for example, Aung San Suu Kyi may pretend as an 'icon' of democracy, but in reality, what she actually has established is simply hypocrisy, mixed with uncontrolled rogue governance. Under the fake democracy of Suu Kyi, Myanmar's natural and mineral resources are already offered to foreign vested groups, ignoring the national interest. She has transformed Myanmar into a political brothel, 

For decades China is advancing both economically and technologically under 'peoples autocracy'. This formula has already been proved to be extremely viable for most of the developing nations. Possibly this has inspired Mr Narendra Modi and his party leaders in introducing a new format of peoples autocracy under the grab of ultra-nationalism mixed with radical Hinduism. And of course, this formula is going to be beneficial to the people of India.

In Turkey, the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also copied the same formula under the cover of patriotism and strict rule.

Finally, the emerging of President Xi Jinping as the truest descendant of Comrade Mao Zedong or President Vladimir Putin as the same as Joseph Stalin is nothing but the failure of collectively global democratic leadership. People may disagree with me, but finally, they too will realize- China and Russia made the right decision at the right time.

The theory of democracy most possibly is already under life support in ICU. Peoples autocracy will emerge in many other nations in the days to come.

This article published at:

1. The Himalayan Times, Nepal: 08 December 20

2. Review Nepal, Nepal : 8 Dec '20

3. The World News, Nepal : 8 Dec '20

4. Kashmir watch, 12 Dec'20

5. South China Morning Post, HK,27Dec20

6. Chinaplus.com,27Dec21