Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish
Encyclopedia
The Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis (also known as Khilafat Majlis) is an Islamist
political party working to establish an Islamic state
along the lines of a Caliphate
('Khilafat') in the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
, modelled on the Caliphate
, a multi-national religious suprantional state. The party seeks the full enforcement of the Sha'riah. In conjunction with other Islamist parties Khilafat Majlis held street protests in the capital Dhaka
condemning Israel
for its role in the 2006 Lebanon War. In February, 2010 police in Khulna
baton-charged
Khilafat Majlis activists who were holding street protests, and arrested five. Khilafat Majlis activists were reportedly protesting the arrest of a central party leader Maulana Shakhawat
, who had been arrested by the government.
Khilafat Majlis is being led by veteran Islamist leader Maulana Muhammad Ishaq and Ahmad Abdul Quader. Central Executive Committee runs the day to day affairs of the party.
and the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh
, signed a controversial memorandum of understanding
with the Khelafat Majlish to form a political alliance for the then-scheduled 2006 general election. The terms of the pact were reportedly to be designed to give the Awami League, one of the two main political parties in Bangladesh, a share in the vote bank of religious Muslim voters, who formed an important bloc of voters in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. In turn, an Awami League-led government would enact the Majlish agenda of declaring the Ahmadiyya
community as non-Muslim, passing a blasphemy law
(outlawing expressions of criticism of Islam) and make fatwa
s (decrees from Muslim clerics) legally binding. However, Sheikh Hasina later claimed that the Khelafat had approached her about forming an alliance and had promised to support a secular policy.
The pact was severely criticised within Bangladesh and by various leaders of the Awami League such as party presidium
member Amir Hossain Amu
, who criticised Sheikh Hasina for signing the pact without discussing it with other party leaders. By 2007, the pact had been scrapped after Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh from the exile imposed by the interim government
(2006–2008). Defending her actions, Sheikh Hasina said that the pact was signed for a "certain period" to resist the "communal-fundamentalist forces" led by the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. Hasina claimed she was authorised by party leaders to make any decisions to ensure election victory for the Awami League.
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
political party working to establish an Islamic state
Islamic State
An Islamic state is a type of government, in which the primary basis for government is Islamic religious law...
along the lines of a Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
('Khilafat') in the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Foundation
The Khilafat Majlis was founded in 1989 by Maulana Abdul Gaffar of Khilafat Andolon and the firebrand, intellectual ideologue Ahmad Abdul Quader of Islami Jubo Shibir (a rival organisation to Jamaa'te-i-Islami in the 1980s when it's emerged as Khilafat Majlis.) Although smaller in comparison to Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Khilafat Majlis maintains a strong following amongst modern and traditionally educated Muslims, intellectuals and laymen of all strands across the country. Unlike Jamaa't its attracts people from universities, colleges, schools as well as Kowmi and Alia Madrasas.Agenda and activities
The Khilafat Majlis seeks the establishment of an Islamic stateIslamic State
An Islamic state is a type of government, in which the primary basis for government is Islamic religious law...
, modelled on the Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
, a multi-national religious suprantional state. The party seeks the full enforcement of the Sha'riah. In conjunction with other Islamist parties Khilafat Majlis held street protests in the capital Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
condemning Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for its role in the 2006 Lebanon War. In February, 2010 police in Khulna
Khulna
Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in Khulna District. It is the divisional headquarters of Khulna Division and a major industrial and commercial center. It has a seaport named Mongla on its outskirts, 38 km from Khulna...
baton-charged
Baton charge
A baton charge is a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people, usually used by police or military during public order situations. In certain countries, police are not authorised to use the tactic unless no other means can be practiced....
Khilafat Majlis activists who were holding street protests, and arrested five. Khilafat Majlis activists were reportedly protesting the arrest of a central party leader Maulana Shakhawat
Maulana Shakhawat
Maulana Shakhawat is a Bangladeshi politician and leader of the Islamist Khelafat Majlish party, holding the title of Nayab-i-Ameer. He was briefly arrested in 2010 by Bangladeshi police and later placed on remand in a case of abduction of physician Dr. Azizur Rahman....
, who had been arrested by the government.
Khilafat Majlis is being led by veteran Islamist leader Maulana Muhammad Ishaq and Ahmad Abdul Quader. Central Executive Committee runs the day to day affairs of the party.
Pact with Awami League
On January 22, 2006 Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the president of the reputedly secular Bangladesh Awami LeagueBangladesh Awami League
The Bangladesh Awami League , commonly known as the Awami League, is the mainstream center-left, secular political party in Bangladesh...
and the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
The Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the Head of the Government of Bangladesh. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Jatiya Sangsad Parliament, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate...
, signed a controversial memorandum of understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
with the Khelafat Majlish to form a political alliance for the then-scheduled 2006 general election. The terms of the pact were reportedly to be designed to give the Awami League, one of the two main political parties in Bangladesh, a share in the vote bank of religious Muslim voters, who formed an important bloc of voters in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. In turn, an Awami League-led government would enact the Majlish agenda of declaring the Ahmadiyya
Ahmadiyya
Ahmadiyya is an Islamic religious revivalist movement founded in India near the end of the 19th century, originating with the life and teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad , who claimed to have fulfilled the prophecies about the world reformer of the end times, who was to herald the Eschaton as...
community as non-Muslim, passing a blasphemy law
Blasphemy law
Blasphemy law is law relating to blasphemy, or irreverence toward supposed holy personages, religious artifacts, customs, and beliefs.In some countries, blasphemy is not a crime. In the United States of America, for example, a prosecution for blasphemy would violate the Constitution according to...
(outlawing expressions of criticism of Islam) and make fatwa
Fatwa
A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...
s (decrees from Muslim clerics) legally binding. However, Sheikh Hasina later claimed that the Khelafat had approached her about forming an alliance and had promised to support a secular policy.
The pact was severely criticised within Bangladesh and by various leaders of the Awami League such as party presidium
Presidium
The presidium or praesidium is the name for the heading organ of various legislative and organizational bodies.-Historical usage:...
member Amir Hossain Amu
Amir Hossain Amu
Amir Hossain Amu is a Bangladeshi politician and senior leader in the Amir Hossain Amu is a [[Bangladesh]]i politician and senior leader in the Amir Hossain Amu is a [[Bangladesh]]i politician and senior leader in the [[Bangladesh Awam...
, who criticised Sheikh Hasina for signing the pact without discussing it with other party leaders. By 2007, the pact had been scrapped after Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh from the exile imposed by the interim government
Caretaker government of Bangladesh
The Caretaker Government of Bangladesh is a form of government system in which the country is ruled by a selected government for an interim period during transition from one government to another, after the completion tenure of the former. As the outgoing government hands over their power, the...
(2006–2008). Defending her actions, Sheikh Hasina said that the pact was signed for a "certain period" to resist the "communal-fundamentalist forces" led by the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. Hasina claimed she was authorised by party leaders to make any decisions to ensure election victory for the Awami League.