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| Bangladesh |
| Religion-based politics source of militancy |
| 2007-04-12 |
| Religion-based politics is the major source of militancy and close ties between Jamaat-e-Islami and militancy is quite lucid in this country, speakers at a views exchange meeting said yesterday. Punishing a few of the militants cannot uproot militancy. Rather, an ideological battle against militancy needs to be launched, they added. Bangladesh Heritage Foundation and Democracy and Human Rights Research organised the discussion at Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (Bilia) auditorium titled 'Militancy in Bangladesh: Against Democracy, Rule of Law and the Spirit of Liberation War'. While presenting the keynote paper based on a recent study, former ambassador and Bilia director Wali-Ur Rahman said there is no other alternative but to restrain militancy to upholding the spirit of Liberation War, good governance and strengthening of democratic culture. Rahman added that even during the state of emergency, Jamaat is still continuing its clandestine activities to spread religion-based politics through 42 organisations. Jamaat at present controls around 60 percent mosques and mosque-based educational facilities in the country. The party has already set up at least one madrasa in every village to provide Islamic education, Rahman pointed out. He also added that Jamaat has established a strong network of followers across the country by investing a huge amount of money in the transport sector. Besides, it has organised a large number of party activists through mosques and madrasas in villages all over the country. Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat, has made a strong presence in five universities and 12 colleges in the country. Dhaka University is their next target. Shibir has also been spreading its control in rural areas with the help of Islamic NGOs. It even opened up operational cells in different parts of the country to organise militant activities, he added. Though the law enforcement agencies are trying to bring the militants behind bars, the policy makers should put their emphasis on capturing patronizers as well as financiers of militancy, the speakers said. They also stressed the need for timely action against the militants with a specific strategy while upholding the constitution. Among others, Dr Syed Anwar Husain of University of Dhaka, Ambassador Arshaduzzaman, Abdul Ahad Chowdhury of Muktijoddha Sangsad and Kamrul Hasan Khan of Peshajibi Samannay Parishad also spoke at the meeting. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Its the jihad ideology, stupid. |
| Posted by: Sneaze 2007-04-12 12:39 |
| #1 JOHN CANDY > STRIPES movie > "I'm sorry, but its/thats the Rulez" [of Radical Islam], which is what attracted the love of anti-God Secular Communism in support of Radic Islamist-based Terror. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-04-12 00:21 |