Bangladesh: Taslima Nasreen. Regarding the anti-reservation movement in Bangladesh, I initially thought that it was a campaign launched by students in support of their legitimate demands. So they got support. However, those students did not let anyone realize that this movement was mapped out by Islamic fundamentalists and separatists. Now these students have created an atmosphere of terror in the entire country.
In the last few days, these alleged students have humiliated about 1,169 teachers and forced them to leave their jobs. Most of these teachers are Hindus. The entire minority community, including Hindus appointed to high and prestigious positions, is being continuously targeted. Jihadi fighters and convicted criminals are being released from jail.
The ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and jihadi group Hizb ut Tahrir has been lifted. Hizb ut Tahrir fighters took out a rally in Dhaka carrying the IS flag. Mohammad Jashimuddin Rahm., the jihadi leader of Ahsanullah Bangla Team, formed under the guidance of Al-Qaeda, has been released from jail.
At present, there are more jihadi Islamic groups on the streets of Bangladesh than political parties. These people want to establish the Caliphate. Before Bangladesh is completely caught in the clutches of jihadis, some steps have to be taken. First of all, fair and transparent elections should be held as soon as possible. All political parties including the Awami League should participate in the elections.
The elected government should end religion-based politics. In this process, Jamaat-e-Islami should not be recognised as a political party, as it is basically a religious org.sation. Similarly, Hizb ut Tahrir, IS and other terrorist groups should be banned. The so-called process of justice carried out by violent mobs must stop.
Freedom of the press and freedom of expression must be maintained. Secularism must be implemented by removing the religious basis of the Constitution. Teachers and students must return to classrooms and soldiers to their barracks. Civil laws based on religion must be abolished and civil laws based on equality must be implemented.
The Independence Museum, Father of the Nation Museum and the demolished Freedom Fighter Museum will have to be rebuilt. Madrasas will have to be converted into schools. Secular values and modern education will have to be adopted in the curriculum. The government will have to disclose its expenditure. Transparency should be increased by passing the Right to Information Act. However, these suggestions of mine are rarely implemented.
Many questions can be raised on the democratic nature of Sheikh Hasina’s government, but what is happening right now is also not right at all. Even those who snatched power from Sheikh Hasina do not believe in democracy. There is a dance of barbarism going on all around. Neither Muhammad Yunus nor other responsible people seem to be making any me.ngful intervention. On the contrary, the destructive and inhuman activities of radical youth are being supported in various ways.
There is no discussion about elections either. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s son and BNP leader Tariq Zia is not being allowed to return to Bangladesh. Jamaat-e-Islami is currently in power and does not want the BNP leader to return.
If Tariq Zia returns to Bangladesh, Jamaat’s importance will diminish. Therefore, Jamaat wants that the longer he remains in power in a country of Islamic fundamentalists without elections, the better it will be. In this way they will be able to completely impose the rule of Islam in Bangladesh.
On the other hand, Muhammad Yunus, who is leading the government, is a mysterious person. Yunus is basically an NGO. The question is, can such a person take power? Time will tell whether he is a puppet or is completely free to take decisions? His attitude so far is not right. He has rejected the Liberation War of 1971 and called the student movement of 2024 a liberation war.
There was no voice of protest from the government when the monuments of the Liberation War were being demolished. When the agitators were hammering the monuments, Yunus said that the freedom fighters were overwhelmed with the joy of victory, I have never seen such a shameless defense of destructive actions.
All the separatist and radical Muslims of Bangladesh follow Wahabi Islam. Wahabi Islam opposes Sufism. That is why the extremists are now targeting the graves or mausoleums of Sufis.
The stance of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus is clearly anti-India. Many anti-India rallies have been held. India is being blamed for everything from giving shelter to Sheikh Hasina to the floods in Bangladesh. It does not seem that this government is interested in good relations with India.
The population of Hindus in Bangladesh is only eight percent. These fundamentalists will not agree unless Hindus are exterminated. Then Shia and Ahmadiya Muslims will also be exterminated.
There will be no place for atheists, rationalists and liberals in Bangladesh. Then these people will fight among themselves and die. Even then they will not come to their senses. It seems that Bangladesh has gone back to the Middle Ages, where there is no place for non-Islamic people and modernity.
Some time back, there was talk of progress of Bangladesh and Sheikh Hasina’s contribution in taking Bangladesh to that level is no less. Of course, she put the Jihadis in jail, but she also did a lot of religious appeasement. Like recognizing madrasa degrees and expanding Islamic culture. The people whom she tested proved to be her defeatists.
