In fighting extremism, PM needs all our support

On Monday, Islami Ain Bastabayan Committee headed by the leader of a faction of Islami Oikya Jote called for a strike against the government's National Women's Development Policy. Given our politics, that can be considered usual. However what was not usual was the way they went about imposing it.
They came out on to the streets well prepared to fight the police and create as much mayhem as possible. They came armed with newly cut tree branches, and freshly carved wooden sticks clearly indicating they wanted a showdown with the law enforcers. They also wore the symbolic white outer garments (indicating that they were ready to die for what they were agitating). In hartals cars, buses or trucks that ply on the streets are usually attacked. But on Monday the 100 or so buses in Chittagong that were burnt or damaged were parked on roadsides, and were in no way violating the strike. Yet those were burnt or damaged, and one petrol pump was set on fire. We must be fools if we do not see that it was pre-planned. There was something else that was pre-planned.
Some activists in the processions (see Star photo in yesterday's issue) wore the Holy Quran around their necks or under their loosely fitted outer garments. Given their demeanor and body language they clearly intended to engage in scuffles with the police, and if chance should come, physically fight with them. Knowing full well what happens when there is a street fight with the police, bringing the holy book on to the streets is a clear indication that these people wanted the Holy Quran to be exposed to situations when it might be unwittingly and unintentionally desecrated. The aim appears to have been to show on TV screen and in newspaper photographs that our holy book was desecrated by police. This then could be used to fan anti-government sentiment.
Such blatant, shameless, and cynical use of religion and of our Quran had never been seen in the past, and must be condemned by all.
To us nothing exposes the moral bankruptcy of these agitators as the sight that they stooped to using our Holy Quran for their narrow political purpose.
Now let us come to the issue of the women's development policy that is supposed to be against Quranic injunction. In our view the whole argument is: a) based on misinterpretation; b) a deliberate falsification of what the policy contains; and c) a distortion of the purpose of the policy.
The policy only reiterates what is already in the country's constitution, that men and women must be given equal rights in all respects. This means in education, in health services, in job opportunities, in pay, in business opportunities, in politics, etc. In no activity of the state can there be any discrimination. There cannot be any question of Bangladesh having any discriminatory policy towards women or towards any individual or group.
The specific question where a Quranic injunction exists is on the question of inheritance of paternal property. But the women's development policy in question has remained totally silent about inheritance. There is absolutely no reference to property inheritance in the policy of the government.
So why is such a blatantly false issue being raised against the government? In our view, it is simply to use religion to drum up anti-government agitation.
During our time with Pakistan, the oft used propaganda against Awami League was that it was a party against Islam. It is ironic that the slogans and propaganda tactics that we heard and saw in the late fifties, sixties, and in the freedom fighting days of the early seventies -- are now being repeated. Those who opposed Bangladesh's liberation war, propagated that a break up of Pakistan was against Islam and the Muslim Ummah. They also said that in independent Bangladesh Islam would vanish. At that time religion was used to stop us from getting our freedom and independence. Today the same slogans and propaganda are being made to stop us from moving forward.
There is a very relevant lesson for us to learn from Pakistan. Born in the name of religion, it was never able to shed misuse of religion from its day to day politics. In the 24 years that we were part of Pakistan, we saw how our language, culture, and economic rights were suppressed in the name of Islam. Every time we raised a social, cultural or economic issue -- the response was "Islam khetrey mey hai" (Islam is in danger). Having learnt nothing from our independence, and the consequent breakup of Pakistan, the same blatant misuse of Islam continued. Gen Ziaul Huq epitomises the misuse of religion for political and personal gain. He used it to strengthen his rule, but it fundamentally weakened his country, and sowed seeds of self destruction. The daily news of suicide bombers killing innocent civilians can only be understood by looking at the long term misuse of religion for political purpose.
We think the people of Bangladesh must be made aware that use of Islam by these extremist groups are never either for the glory of Islam or for the prosperity of the Muslims. It is for the gain of a small coterie of people who exploit peoples' religious sentiments for political support, as they have nothing else to offer to gain public support. Once and for all this must be stopped and people who indulge in it exposed.
We will clearly state that there are many issues where we think the government should be criticised, and mass agitation would be fully justified. But the women's development policy is far from being one of them. In fact it is one where the government deserves a lot of credit.
We strongly feel that this government, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must be given our unstinting support in fighting this retrogressive element. We must remember that extremism has done no good to any people any where in the world. The Muslims all over the world must get their due recognition and respect from other nations and countries. Demonising Islam and discrimination against the Muslims must stop. The Palestinian people must be given their rights. But extremism will get us none of that. Pakistan serves as a good example as to what happens if extremism is not tackled with a firm hand and in good time. We must also acknowledge, other than Sheikh Hasina's government none dared to take the bull by the horn, and fight extremism with courage, determination, and a lot of political and personal risk.
The terror created by extremist leader Bangla Bhai and outlawed JMB (Jama'atul Mujahideen, Bangladesh) are still very fresh in our memories, and all that happened during the rule of BNP-led four-party coalition government. The synchronised bomb blasts across the country, suicide bombings, and all grenade attacks had evident extremist links, but investigations were clueless then as BNP chose not to see the consequences of dating dangerous elements. The opposition must study what has happened in Pakistan, and stop flirting with extremism just because it gives an additional number of cadres to harass the government with.
The government, on its part, must initiate a mass contact programme to go, if necessary, door to door, and speak to each and every rural and urban household, and explain to them the false and motivated use that is being made of religion. Here the Grand Alliance must bring all its workers and local leaders together. It is a battle for the hearts and minds of the people, and cannot be won either by police action, or by forces or rhetorical exhortations.
This is a battle we cannot afford to lose.