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| Bangladesh |
| Jamaat fails to find backing |
| 2011-01-02 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Panic spread among the rank and file of the Jamaat-e-Islami after the arrest of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, who had close contact with the Islamist party. The arrest of Salauddin, a member of national standing committee of BNP and a war crimes suspect, came as a 'double blow' for Jamaat which failed to gain support from most of its allies on the war crimes trial issue, party insiders said. The party is searching for a way to face the situation, which they consider as the worst since its political revival during the rule of late president Ziaur Rahman, they added. Talking to The Daily Star several leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami admitted that they are going through the worst time in the party history after the arrests of its top leaders on charges of crimes against humanity. Jamaat has planned to stage demonstrations abroad, specially in the UK, the USA and some other Middle Eastern countries, using its supporters and like-minded organisations against the war crimes trial and government's 'repression,' said the leaders. Presently the crisis-hit party is conducting indoor activities due to the stern stance of the government. Some leaders, wishing not to be named, said they are working under different organisations to start anti-government movement. Two years of the Awami League-led grand alliance government have already passed, said the leaders, adding they are now waiting for the tenure to come to an end. "Only three years of the present government is remaining and we will be able to start a strong movement against the government very soon," said acting secretary general ATM Azharul Islam at a discussion meeting on December 16. So far five top leaders of Jamaat, including its Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami and Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, are facing war crimes trial. The party is now assessing the consequences after the probable arrest of its former chief Ghulam Azam as the state minister for law has already said he will also be brought to book. Jamaat opposed country's Liberation War in 1971 and many of its leaders were allegedly involved in crimes against humanity during the nine-month-long war. |
| Posted by:Fred |