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Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh

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Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh
LeadersAhmad Shafi, Mufti Izharul Islam
Dates of operation2010-present[1]
HeadquartersChittagong, Bangladesh
Active regionsBangladesh
IdeologyIslamism
Islamic fundamentalism
Battles and warsFatickchhari killing[2]

Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh (Template:Lang-bn;) also known as Hifazat-e-Islam Bangladesh is a madrasa based fundamentalist Islamic group in Bangladesh, was formed in January 2010. [1] [3] This group, politically backed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, was formed in 2010 to protest against the secular education policy of Bangladeshi government. In 2011, they showed violent demonstrations against the women's equal rights policy of the government and in 2013, became headlines after holding large rallies asking the government to take action against the Shahbag protesters, who are demanding capital punishment of Bangladesh liberation war criminals. [4] [5][1][6] In 2013 this group warn government with 13 point charter, which includes banning the woman right of work outside, execution of so called atheist bloggers and stopping Shahbag protests.[7] [8] German ambassador Albrecht Conze in Bangladesh says Hifazat's demands fundamentalism in Bangladesh. [9]

Formation

In January of 2010, this radical Islamic group was formed comprising the teachers of more than hundred Kawmi madrasas at Chittagong, Bangladesh. Ahmad Shafi, the director of Hathazari Madrasa and Mufti Izharul Islam, the chairman of the Islamist party Islami Oikya Jote, are regarded as the founders of Hefajat-e-Islam, Bangladesh.[1][10] This group was formed to protest government's secular policies in education and politics.[3][1]

Protest against secular education policy in 2010

Within a month after formation Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh starts violence at chittagong. They engaged thousands of madrasa students in this violence. They were protesting the secular education policy and demanded presence of religion-based politics.[1][3] Few of these madrasa students were captured by police and later released. [11]

Protest against 'equal right' woman policy in 2011

In the year 2011 Hefajat-e-Islam protests the proposed national women development policy, which includes equal right for women.[5][12]

Activities in 2013

In this year Hefajat-e-Islam popped up again and start protest against Shahbag movement, which is demanding capital punishment of Bangladesh liberation war criminals. [4] Hefajat termed all the Shahbag protesters as atheist. They arranged a rally towards capital city Dhaka, demanding execution of so-called atheist bloggers and blasphemy law.[13][14][15]

Thirteen point charter

Hefajat-e-Islam prepared a 13 point charter and warn government to accept these, otherwise the threaten for tougher movement.[14] The essence of thirteen points demanded[7][15]-

  • Rrelease of detained alleged war criminals of Bangladesh liberation war,
  • Execution of so-called atheist bloggers and passing blasphemy law
  • Dumping equal right national women policy.
  • Ban women from mixing with men
  • Stop of building any sculpture.
  • Declaring Qadianis as non-muslim.


Fatickchhari killing

On 11 April 2013, three Awami League members were killed at Fatickchhari, Chittagong.[16] Inhibitors of the village were misguided by false announcement from local mosque, which said Awami league men are attacking madrasa and killed imam of the mosque. After hearing that people including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefajat-e-Islam activist attack on Awami league men. 3 of them were killed and 50 were injured, 17 vehicles were torched.[17] [18]

May 5 violence

On May 5, 2013, Hefajat arranged a siege and rally at capital city, Dhaka. Whole day they spread violence through the city and at least 4 people were killed during their violent protest. [19] They attacked on Communist Party of Bangladesh's office at Motijheel and burnt it.[20] A clash was also carried out by them in front of the ruling party Awami League's headquarter at Paltan, Dhaka.[21]

Involvement of pro-taliban leaders

Maulana Habibur Rahman, who declared in an interview that he has traveled to Afghanistan during the Afghan war in 1988, is one of the organizers of Hefajat-e Islam’s May 5 Dhaka long march. [22] In an interview published in 2004, he revealed his involvement with Osama Bin Laden and another banned Islamist militant organization Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami (Huji) Bangladesh. On that interview he said-

“An invitation from Harkat-ul Jihad Al Islami made it possible for me to make the fortunate trip to Afghanistan… Those of us who visited the Afghan war fields during that trip are Shaikhul Hadith, Ataur Rahman Khan, Sultan Jaok, Abdul Mannan, Habibullah, myself and three others.”[22]

Reference

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Unknown Islamist group flexes its muscles in Ctg". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 25 February 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  2. ^ "3 die in Fatickchhari clashes". bdnews24.com. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "৩০ জন আহত, গ্রেপ্তার ৩৯, আট ঘণ্টা সড়ক অবরোধ চট্টগ্রামে হেফাজতে ইসলামের কর্মীদের সঙ্গে পুলিশের সংঘর্ষ (Hefajat-e-Islam clash with police at Chittagong, 30 injured and 39 arrested, road blocked for 8 hours)". Prothom Alo. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b "'Hifazat chief implementing Jamaat agenda'". bdnews24.com. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Bangladesh: 1 dead in clash over women's rights". AP. 3 April2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "women_policy-1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ "'Hifazat chief implementing Jamaat agenda'". bdnews24.com. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  7. ^ a b "The 13-point demands". The Hindu. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Govt must accede to our demands: Hifazat". bdnews24.com. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Hifazat demands fundamentalism: German Ambassador". bdnews24.com. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  10. ^ "19 hurt as new Islamist group holds protest in Chittagong". Hindustan Times. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  11. ^ "All detainees set free in Ctg". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 26 February 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  12. ^ "10 policemen among 20 hurt in Ctg clash". New Age. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Bangladesh Islamists rally against atheist bloggers". AFP. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Bangladesh Islamists rally for blasphemy law". CNN. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Islamist agitation fuels unrest in Bangladesh". Yahoo News. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  16. ^ "HARTAL At cost of people". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 12 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  17. ^ "17 vehicles torched, AL men attacked". bdnews24.com. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  18. ^ "3 die in Fatickchhari clashes". bdnews24.com. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  19. ^ "4 die in Hifazat havoc". bdnews24.com. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  20. ^ "Hifazat men burn CPB office". bdnews24.com. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  21. ^ "Jamaat behind AL office attack: Alamgir". bdnews24.com. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  22. ^ a b "Target Taliban rule". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 7 April 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.