Jamaat reformists under pressure

The reformist faction of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is under pressure following debate over the issue of seeking apology for the party’s role during the liberation war.

After the resignation of Jamaat’s assistant secretary general Abdur Razzaq, majlis-e-shura member Mojibur Rahman Monju was expelled. Another Jamaat leader from Dinajpur resigned on grounds that Jamaat was an anti-liberation party.

Two major factions have emerged in the party, one in favour and one against against the proposal to seek apology for the role of Jamaat during the liberation war. They are also in conflict over the abolition of Jamaat and the formation of a new party.

The crisis became more evident after the resignation of the prominent Abdur Razzaq. Other leaders in favour of reforms have been under pressure since then. Mojibur Rahman was expelled as immediate action against reformists inside the party.

Mojibur Rahman, in a Facebook post, wrote he joined Jamaat's student wing Chhatra Shibir in 1988 and joined Jamaat-e-Islami in 2004.

He said, he had expressed his discontent with the party’s internal affairs ever since his joining.

Like Abdur Razzak, he also believes that the party should apologise to the nation for opposing the liberation war and considers not doing so was a big political mistake. Also Mojibur Rahman said that the position of the party was vague and misleading regarding the issues.

“I do not think I am under pressure. What I have said was in the minds of many others for years in the party. They cannot speak up due to the circumstances. I believe Jamaat will realise the reality someday,” Mojibur told Prothom Alo

On February 14, the day before the election, Mojibur Rahman posted 'Lengthy phone conversation leaked ...' on his Facebook page.

He wrote , “Jamaat did not participate in the 1971 war, rather opposed it. Did Jamaat do right? Wasn’t it a mistake? Without addressing the issue, Jamaat spoke differently at different times. They accepted Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as ‘visionary’ of Bangladesh, but the same leaders called him a 'conspirator', 'traitor' and call freedom fighters to be India’s collaborators.

 According to Mojibur Rahman, if Jamaat apologised for its role in 1971 then there was no problem. However, Mojibur Rahman, in another Facebook post on Saturday, termed Jamaat leaders as 'martyrs' who were hanged for war crimes. 

“Blood of hundreds of martyrs will speak one day,” he wrote