Pro-government Olama League group backed by Jamaat-e-Islami, Hifazat-e Islam, say rivals

A faction of Awami Olama League has said Hifazat-e Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami back the other group.

They have alleged the rival faction, funded by the Hifazat-e Islam, is carrying on ‘anti-government’ activities.

The factions of the Awami Olama League have been taking part in programmes of ruling Awami League separately for a long time using the address of the party’s headquarters.

Ilias Hossain Bin Helali and Mohammad Delwar Hossain were leading one faction, and Akter Hossain and Abul Hasan the other.

The Helali-Delwar faction organised a discussion on Tuesday next to Mohila Awami League’s office on the second floor of the Awami League headquarters on 23 Bangabandhu Avenue.

The discussion was organised in protest against Jamaat-e-Islami’s shutdown.

No one from the Akter-Abul faction was seen there.

The Akter-Abul faction demonstrated two days ago, demanding a stringent law to issue death sentences to ‘bloggers defaming Islam’.

File Photo

Their other demands were similar to the 13-point charter of demand of hardliner Hifazat.

No Awami League leaders commented on the issue when contacted.

Party spokesperson Mahbub-Ul Alam Hanif declined comment on matters relating to any organisation ‘not affiliated to Awami League’.

Helali on Tuesday alleged some persons from Hifazat had infiltrated the organisation.

“Basically, they are militants. They are conducting anti-government activities with money from Hifazat,” he said.

He alleged the other faction was ‘communal’.

“We’ll see those who are backing, no matter how big leaders they are,” Helali said.

He also alleged top leaders of the ruling party, including its Religious Affairs Secretary Sheikh Abdullah, were backing that faction.

He slated Hanif for his comments.

He said his organisation’s operations began in 1996 through Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu following an order of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“Now he (Hanif) is saying we don’t have any affiliation,” Helali said.

He also referred to a separate Iftar party for the Olama League leaders and activists at the Ganabhaban during the last Ramadan to rubbish Hanif’s claim.

On the other hand, the Akter-Babul faction claimed they had been taking part in Awami League programmes since 2001.

Abul Hasan, General Secretary of this faction, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was their chief patron.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Awami League Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap were overseeing them, he claimed.

“We took part in a programme of Shariatpur MP BM Mozammel Haque in his constituency today. Then how can we be militants?” he asked.

Hasan said the Helali-Delwar faction included only some bus and truck drivers and their helpers.

“They are cheating under the leadership of Awami League’s city unit chief and Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Joint General Secretary Haji Mohammad Salim,” he said.

Referring to newspaper reports last month, he also alleged all of Heleali’s family had been members of Razakar, the militia that collaborated with the Pakistani occupation army during the Liberation War.

“They are new Awami Leaguers,” he said.

He also mentioned a TV programme that showed how the leaders and activists of the organisation were beaten up in 2001.

“We are the real people of the Awami League,” he said.

Neither minister Quader nor Office Secretary Golap could not be reached for comment.