Anti-communal platform asks Awami League to explain ties to Islamist outfit Olama League

Awami League must explain the nature of its relationship with Awami Olama League which has recently demanded a ban on Bangla New Year celebrations, an anti-communal platform has said.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 11 April 2016, 03:55 PM
Updated : 22 May 2017, 09:22 PM

They demanded that leaders of the Islamist group be arrested for making communal comments, said the speakers at a discussion organised at the Dhaka University on Monday.

“Olama League, a rootless organisation, is cheating people by using Awami League’s identity. They can now do their work with relative ease,” said Abed Khan, convener of an alliance against militancy and communalism.

“Police can get in the way of programmes of political parties, so why shouldn’t they stop an organisation that calls for programmes that go against the government and the nation.”

The Islamist outfit formed a human chain on Saturday to ask the government to cut down funding for Pahela Baishakh celebrations and divert the money to festivals like Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi instead.

They also demanded that Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha be stripped of his position for being a Hindu. 

Even though the Awami League does not officially recognise it as an affiliated body, leading figures of the ruling party have been attending their programmes.

Olama League leaders are also invited to Awami League events.

“Awami League leaders have made individual comments about Olama League not being an affiliate. But this needs to be cleared once and for all,” said Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, an activist based in Shahbagh.

“I will urge Awami League leaders to publish their statements in the newspaper.”

Alamin Babu, an activist of the Ganajagaran Mancha movement, termed Olama League a ‘militant organisation’.

“This Olama League was the first to express its reservations about the Ganajgaran Mancha. It is possible that Olama League is involved in the killings of bloggers,” he said.

Abed Khan said Olama League will be thwarted. “No anti-Liberation War force will be allowed in this independent country. We will hit the streets if Olama League is seen on the streets,” he said.

The former editor also urged the media not to run news of Olama League.

Freedom fighter Mohidul Alam Idu urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to act against Olama League.

“Please have them arrested immediately. You (prime minister) have brought the Razakars to justice. We want you to defeat all the radical forces,” he said.

A martyred intellectual’s son, Tawheed Reza Noor, urged the politicians not to keep any anti-Liberation War elements in their parties.

“I saw many joining the Awami League with flowers. The closer you bring them, the farther you push away the new generation,” he said.