Dhaka Bureau: Jamaat-e-Islami has not been active in field politics for a long time. There is hardly any political program apart from sending some statements to the issue-focused media and taking out jhatika processions in the capital. Sources say that the anti-independence party is trying to activate itself in a simultaneous movement with the main opposition parties, including the BNP, to demand the resignation of the government and a non-partisan, neutral caretaker government. However, the BNP is strategically avoiding the party. In this situation, the leaders and activists of the party cornered in the political field are secretly organizing in the name of various organizations across the country, including the capital. In this way, it is trying to destabilize the country by being active on the streets as part of a ‘new strategy’.
It is known that last Saturday evening, a discussion meeting on the “Zakat System” was organized in a restaurant called “Four C” in Mirpur-1 Capital Market under Darus Salam Police Station of the capital. Hundreds of leaders and activists of Jamaat-Shibir were organized secretly under the cover of a discussion meeting on the zakat system. However, the program was not under the Jamaat banner. Later, based on secret information, law enforcement forces arrested 57 people by raiding there. Later showing the recovery of eight cocktails from them
A case was filed under the Explosives and Special Powers Act. In this regard, the Additional Deputy Police Commissioner (ADC) of Darus Salam Zone of Mirpur Division Jaminur Rahman Khan said several people were arrested after receiving information that anti-government activities were going on in a restaurant in the capital market of Mirpur-1. A case has been filed against them under the Special Powers Act. They will be remanded to the court.
An officer of Darus Salam Police Station said that there was no program under the banner of Jamaat in that restaurant. But Jamaat leaders and activists were involved in organizing the discussion meeting. 60 to 70 people have been arrested in raids there. Among them are several leaders and activists of Jamaat, who are accused in various cases. They will be remanded and questioned. According to the statement of the case, apart from the 57 people arrested by the Jamaat on the day of the incident, another 30 to 40 people who escaped were planning a major sabotage on the great Independence Day on March 26. They organized this meeting to embarrass the government. The police foiled their plan by raiding there on the basis of secret information.
However, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka Metropolitan North Publicity Department Director Ataur Rahman said that Zakat is a fundamental provision of Islam. A seminar on Zakat was going on in that restaurant. It is sad that the devout worshipers of the area and more than half a hundred people who came to the market were arrested without having committed any crime. He also said that assembly is a fundamental right. The incident of detention without any crime will increase the unrest in the country. We hope the law enforcement agencies will let them go without harming innocent people.
Before this, on March 4, the inaugural function of an organization called ‘T Twenty Plus’ was organized at a restaurant in the Jamalkhan area of Kotwali police station in Chittagong city. Kotwali police station raided the event based on secret information. From there, 30 people were arrested, and a case was filed against them under the Special Powers Act. The law and order forces said that all those arrested are Jamaat-Shibir activists. According to the complaint, the accused met in secret meetings to depose the current government through subversive activities, destabilize the political situation, and disrupt the functioning of important state institutions.
In this regard, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station Zahidul Kabir said that the Jamaat is organizing itself in various ways in view of the upcoming elections. In this case, various organizations are being opened anonymously. On the night of March 4, the leaders and activists of the party were holding a secret meeting under the cover of the inauguration ceremony of an organization called ‘T20 Plus’ in the Jamalkhan area. The foundation anniversaries of that organization and Jamaat are on the same date. Later, 30 people were arrested in a raid there.
It is known that several hundreds of leaders and activists from different parts of the country have been arrested by law enforcement forces during the secret meeting. Jamaat-e-Islami is moving forward with a ‘new strategy’ in view of the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections. Secretly trying to destabilize the country. They are trying to show their strength in the field with programs on various issues related to the ten-point demand and people-related issues, including the resignation of the government and a non-partisan, neutral caretaker government. It is known that Jamaat took part in the mass march on December 24 and 30 by announcing its intention to participate in the simultaneous movement with BNP separately in the first two programs of the simultaneous movement led by BNP. Among them, activists were subjected to tear gas shells and batons by the police in Malibag while holding a mass rally in Dhaka on December 30. Many were injured, and many were arrested. But the BNP did not respond to this incident. The concerned persons say that Jamaat has practically refrained from participating in subsequent programs. Because BNP has discussed and consulted with all other parties regarding the journey or program of simultaneous anti-government movement, there has been no communication with Jamaat. However, the leaders and workers of the party are not sitting. Secretly running their organizational activities across the country.
After the execution of top leaders for crimes against humanity during the liberation war, a vacuum was created in Jamaat politics across the country. Moreover, administrative obstacles are also being faced in conducting organizational activities publicly. Besides, in 2013 and 2015, the leaders of the party have had to appear in court regularly in the case of arson. Many cases have to be dealt with. It has been alleged that the top leaders, who have been absconding and hiding for a long time, are returning to the political arena after avoiding the eyes of the police with multiple cases in mind.
Jamaat-Shibir is organizing secretly through technology. Jamaat-Shibir is conducting organizational activities through websites and social media without holding public meetings. Their organizational activities are going on online to avoid the attention of law enforcement agencies. It is known that political activities of Jamaat-e-Islami are going on all over the country. Leaders are keeping organizational communication with employees through various channels, including WhatsApp, Viber, and Messenger. They are meeting whenever they get a chance. Promoting the ideals of the organization through the online library
Organizational activities are going on in strategy. It has been found out that Jamaat-e-Islami, which is known as a ‘well-organized’ party in the field of politics, has been silent for a long time. As the politics of the field are not favorable, the minds of the activists are now turned toward organizing the party. Instead of formal meetings like the directives of the center, the party is working internally and all over the country to save organizational strength through various strategies. The trend of earlier secret meetings is no longer the same. However, the leaders and workers of the party are not sitting down, even if they cannot do formal organizational work as before. In view of the current situation, organizational activities are being carried out at the grassroots level with different strategies as per the instructions given by the center. Sometimes the party decision is reached through personal talk. Sometimes organizational talk is taken up during the chat.
A central executive council member of Jamaat-e-Islami, who did not want to be named, said that since 2016, Jamaat has been working on organizing social welfare and organization. At this time, several lakhs of workers and 10,000 workers have increased. Our normal organizational operations continue and will continue. Our movement against this illegal government is ongoing and will continue. We will be on the streets until this government falls.
Meanwhile, it has been found that the full committee was formed for the 2023–2025 tenure of Jamaat-e-Islami on December 2 last year. In the meantime, 86 organizational district branches and the upazila, thana, municipal, union, and ward-level committees under them have formed. For several years, the party has not been openly active but has been quietly conducting organizational activities under the cover of various social activities.
In this regard, a senior police official said, “We are keeping a close eye on all activities of the Jamaat.” We will not allow the team to enter the field under any circumstances. The anti-independence party will destabilize the streets; they will not be given that chance. They will be suppressed with maximum force.
