Islamists vs Secularists

From Cairo to Dhaka ‘Islamists’ are emerging as potential challenge to the secular nationalist forces who fear getting marginalized and losing power. The well-entrenched army and judiciary, with ‘liberal’ orientation, are backing the latter at the cost of professional ethics, integrity of the institution and canons of justice. The ruling class seams scared of the growing influence of the Islamic groups and therefore have decided to sweep them out from the political firmament of the country.

Bangladesh Crisis

Events have reached unprecedented levels in Bangladesh, as demonstrations by government opposition groups have led to what can only be described as a massacre. Hefazat-E-Islam carried out its second large scale demonstration against the Awami League (AL) government in order to express its strong sentiments against the government’s backing of atheist bloggers and strong anti-Islamic stances. The AL is in the final year of its term, and this term has been littered with corruption, scandal and sheer incompetence. With the prospects looking very dim for the AL in the upcoming elections, Sheikh Hasina and the AL have taken to dictatorship and brute force to maintain their stranglehold on the country.
During the AL tenure Sheikha Hasina undertook a number of actions to clip the wings of Islamic minded groups and reduce their influence. When taking office in 2008 the Awami league announced it would reintroduce the original Four State Principles into the Preamble of the Constitution of Bangladesh. Secularity was one of the principles induced into the original Constitution of Bangladesh in 1972, which was subsequently removed by the military regimes and replaced with “Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah shall be the basis of all actions.” The AL government made numerous changes to the educational curriculum and the educational institutes. They also made changes to family laws, enforced new controls on the Islamic institutions, banned religious gatherings and began a brutal crackdown on Islamic political parties. The AL also set up Kangaroo tribunals to try those individuals who had allegedly committed massacres during the 1971 war of independence. The international Criminal Tribunal (ICT) staffed with individuals appointed by the AL, conducted a vicious campaign against many in the opposition through a fabricated process where they were made guilty before any case was heard.

How East-Pakistan was Seperated

After the demise of Quaid-e-Azam and Liaquat Ali Khan, regionalism raised its ugly head in smaller provinces particularly in East Pakistan where India started a whispering campaign to poison the minds of the youth and seculars against West Pakistan. India exploited the cultural affinity between East and West Bengal by underplaying Allama Iqbal and promoting poetry of Tagore. Since over 90% posts of teachers and professors were held by Hindus, they played a key role in subverting the minds of students and making them hate West Pakistanis. History books of the subcontinent were distorted to paint Muslim rulers in poor light and ancient Hindu rule glamorized. Their hatred against Hindus was gradually mellowed and converted into amiability. Cultural programs and stage dramas enacted by Hindus helped in bringing a change in the mindset of the Muslim Bengalis. Bengali nationalism was stirred by agitating language issue. Politics of agitation was introduced through frequent strikes and mob violence.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who had nurtured the dream of independent Bengal from early days came into prominence in East Pakistan during the language riots in 1948. He again took active part in 1952 language riots. His rebellious stance against West Pakistan Establishment made him popular among Bengalis. He joined Awami League (AL) as a disciple of Suhrawardy. After the death of Suhrawardy in 1964, he maintained his pro-India stance and went astray.

He and his henchmen got in touch with Indian intelligence agencies and during one of the meetings in Agartala, finalized the plan to detach East Pakistan from rest of Pakistan. Under the garb of remedying political and economic grievances of East Pakistan, he formulated six points formula and fanned Bengali nationalism. Unearthing of Agartala conspiracy case in 1968 turned the secessionist into a hero in the eyes of Bengalis. Indian media was instrumental in lionizing Mujib.