Activities of banned militant organization Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) continues unabated in Sylhet, thanks to its London connection, says vernacular daily Samkal.
In the first week of March, seven students of Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology were arrested while distributing HuT leaflets and propaganda materials. The radical group has a very strong presence in London and its activities in Sylhet are being conducted in accordance with instructions received from there.
Soon after its formation in 2000, HuT has built a strong network in Sylhet. Even after being banned, the organization continues to carry on its activities in furtherance of its mission of establishing ‘khilafat’ (Caliphate rule) in Bangladesh.
Sylhet unit of HuT is vigorously pursuing its objective by holding seminars, meetings, processions and other agitational programs.
In the last week of February the London unit of HuT organized a seminar with the theme ‘Awami League’s conspiracy to eradicate Islam from Bangladesh’ at the Toynbee Hall (East London). On March 2 it organized a public meeting in London to highlight ‘women repression in Bangladesh during Awami League regime’.The objective was to arouse anti-Awami League feelings amongst a sizeable Bangladeshi diaspora in London and at the same time mobilize public opinion in favor of HuT.
Though HuT focused only on London based Bangladesh expatriates, it has since spread its wings across Britain with the London based Bangladesh committee headed by Nazmul Haque and policy framing members Liaqat Sarkar and Rokonuddin working over time. To consolidate their base, HuT leaders are extending all possible help to Bangladeshi nationals reaching London on student visa for studies in order to win over and groom them.
Funds collected from expatriate Bangladeshis are channelized to sustain HuT in Sylhet. Official ban is not coming in the way of HuT operating its website and e-mail.
Jamaat-e-Islami
Addressing a meeting of Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) Women’s Majlish-e-Shura and Working Committee (Dhaka, Mar 2) the JEI Amir Matiur Rahman Nizami held out a threat by saying that JEI cadres would not sit idle in the event of trial of JEI leaders on war crimes charges. ‘Awami League led Government’s action ( in war crimes case) will not go unchallenged’ .
BNP/JEI behind CHT unrest
Former BNP MP Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan in collusion with Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) had instigated the recent unrest in Chittaging Hill Tracts (CHT) with assistance from a Pakistani intelligence agency, a parliamentary body concluded after an an on the spot investigation, says the Daily Star.
The standing committee attached to the CHT Affairs Ministry has carried out teh investigtion during its March 5-7 visit to Rangamati and Khagrachhari.
Mohammad Shah Alam, chief of the committee, who also headed the team to CHT, said, “They, Jamaat-Shibir and Wadud Bhuiyan had plotted to put the government in a tight corner. We will soon meet the prime minister and submit our report suggesting measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.”
JEI and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir activists, holed up in the CHT to escape police dragnet following the violence in Rajshahi and Chittagong universities, had incited hatred and fighting between the Muslim settlers and indigenous ‘jumma’ community.“They were aided and abetted by Pakistani intelligence agency ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence),” the parliamentary team said.
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