Call for Khilafah - A look into Hizb-ut-Tahrir Bangladesh
by SHAFIQ RAHMAN
Hizbut Tahrir believes one day it will establish the Khelafat State in Bangladesh, not through elections but through a mass movement.
Hizbut Tahrir is a political platform professing absolute faith in the rule of Islam. It hasnt been that long in Bangladesh, but has already
evoked a lot of criticism. The mainstream media has also raised questions about Hizbut Tahrirs objectives and activities.
Hizbut Tahrir activists are not sitting idle hoping that some day the Khelafat State will somehow be established in Bangladesh. They are
very active and are carrying out mass contact programmes extensively. The organization is banned in a number of countries of the
Middle East, Central Asia and Europe, but has managed to spread its roots quite firmly in Bangladesh. In fact, the party has earned
acceptance among many, including in the educated and civil society.
Chief Coordinator and Spokesman of Hizbut Tahrirs Bangladesh chapter Mohiuddin Ahmed says that the organizational network of the
party has not yet found a firm footing all over the country. Other than in Dhaka, there are one or two members of Hizbut Tahrir in
Comilla, Sylhet and Chittagong who are organizing the party programs there, Ahmed says. Hizbut Tahrirs activities also run in some
17 more districts, but there is no organizational network there as yet. "We are going slow," Ahmed says.
Hizbut Tahrir Bangladeshs media and publicity secretary Mustafa Minhaj says, "We will not be surprised if a Khelafat State is
established in one or two countries in the world including Bangladesh. Prevailing global circumstances have all indications of this," he
observes.
Hizbut Tahrir is a political platform professing absolute faith in the rule of Islam. It hasnt been that long in Bangladesh, but has already
evoked a lot of criticism. The mainstream media has also raised questions about Hizbut Tahrirs objectives and activities.
Hizbut Tahrir activists are not sitting idle hoping that some day the Khelafat State will somehow be established in Bangladesh. They are
very active and are carrying out mass contact programmes extensively. The organization is banned in a number of countries of the
Middle East, Central Asia and Europe, but has managed to spread its roots quite firmly in Bangladesh. In fact, the party has earned
acceptance among many, including in the educated and civil society.
Chief Coordinator and Spokesman of Hizbut Tahrirs Bangladesh chapter Mohiuddin Ahmed says that the organizational network of the
party has not yet found a firm footing all over the country. Other than in Dhaka, there are one or two members of Hizbut Tahrir in
Comilla, Sylhet and Chittagong who are organizing the party programs there, Ahmed says. Hizbut Tahrirs activities also run in some
17 more districts, but there is no organizational network there as yet. "We are going slow," Ahmed says.
Hizbut Tahrir Bangladeshs media and publicity secretary Mustafa Minhaj says, "We will not be surprised if a Khelafat State is
established in one or two countries in the world including Bangladesh. Prevailing global circumstances have all indications of this," he
observes.
Hizbut Tahrir in Bangladesh
The word Hiz means party and Tahrir means freedom. Hizbut Tahrir means "the party for liberation".
Takiuddin Annabahani of Palestines Al Quds formed this political party in 1953. Things were going pretty bad for the Muslims then.
Since 1948 the Jews had started to establish their homes in Palestine and Muslims were being subjected to oppression. Within a very
short time the philosophy of Hizbut Tahrir -- fighting for freedom -- spread across Europe and Asia. The objective of the party was to
establish Khelafat State, not through any democratic process, or election or violence, but through mass movement. The organization
holds meetings, seminars and discussions to spread their philosophy and ideology.
In 1992 a teacher of Dhaka Universitys Management Department, Syed Golam Mowla, went to the UK for higher studies education on
a Commonwealth scholarship. In 1993 Mowla first heard of Hizbut Tahrir from two MBA students studying at the same university. After
a few days Hizbut Tahrirs London Imperial College of Science and Technology chapter organized a seminar at the college auditorium.
Mowla took part in the seminar. "I was greatly attracted to the organisations ideology and expressed my interest to join their next
seminars. Since then I have attended many seminars," Mowla reminisces.
On his return, Mowla shared his newly acquired knowledge with others and discussed about Hizbut Tahrir. Since 1996 Mowlas home
at Dhanmondi turned into a favourite haunt for many civil society members who came there and discussed Hizbut Tahrirs aims and
objectives, its potential, etc. "Then in 2001 I organized a seminar titled Clash of Civilization at Dhanmondis BETS Centre and through
that Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh chapter formally emerged," Mowla says.
Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh Chapters chief coordinator and spokesman Mohiuddin Ahmed says he had just completed MBA when one
day he took part in a discussion at Dr Syed Golam Mowla residence. "There my main attraction was the subject of iman. I realized that
it is not possible to change the country in a way that Allah has dictated unless the society is changed. And to change the society we
need an organization like Hizbut Tahrir," Ahmed says.
Other Islamic parties also wanted to establish Islamic rule and run the country on the lines of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. However,
they have not made much progress. Why should Bangladesh need a party like Hizbut Tahrir, a party that is widely criticized all over the
world? "We have extensively studied the works of other Islamic parties. Our ideology does not match theirs. Their idea of Khelafat is
not clear. And the politics of almost all those parties are virtually the same as the politics of Awami League or BNP. In reality they do
not want to establish Khelafat," Ahmed explains, distinguishing Hizbut Tahrir from other Islamic parties.
Hizbut Tahrirs operations in Bangladesh
Hizbut Tahrir activists attach highest importance to organizing seminars and informal discussions. It also has a clear stand concerning
conventional elections. Ahmed points out, "The elections in our country do not bring about any radical changes. It brings corrupt people
simply to power. We want to offer the people a choice. So we are holding seminars and discussions in a bid to create mass
awareness."
Hizbut Tahrir follows a four-pronged approach to advance their cause: a) earning peoples confidence through a continuous political
process, b) mobilizing peoples movement in a disciplined way, c) toppling the existing system of governance along with the people
with it, and d) electing Khalifa following the Khelafat system through the participation of the people.
Ahmed adds that they have tremendous response from all around the country. "Initially Syed Golam Rabbani, Dr Syed, Md Ijaz, Md
Rakib and myself were there, but now we have some 10,000 members and 50 per cent of them are activists," Ahmed claims.
Countries where Hizbut Tahrir is banned
The organization is active in some 40 countries in the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe either under the name of Hizbut Tahrir or
in groups based on Hizbut Tahrirs ideology. But in 20 of those 40 countries Hizbut Tahrir is banned. The organizations provocative
speeches and instigating leaflets led to the ban of the party. The Muslim states that once were part of Soviet Russia like Uzbekistan,
Kirghizstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan have banned Hizbut Tahrir. Besides these countries, Denmark, Holland, France,
Sudan, Qatar, Turkey, Oman, Libya have also banned the party.
Admitting that Hizbut Tahrir is banned in a number of countries, Ahmed clarifies that nowhere has Hizbut Tahrir been banned for
terrorist activities. The Arab countries that banned Hizbut Tahrir do not have democracy, while the Central Asian counties that have
banned the party are ruled by people who were once communists and the communists cannot tolerate any opposition parties, he
explains. And as far as Pakistan and Afghanistan are concerned, the governments in these countries are virtually puppets of the US,
he adds.
When asked about their criticism of the countrys democracy, judiciary and Constitution, Mohiuddin says, "Discussing the Constitution
does not mean we are opposing the Constitution." He observes the people of Bangladesh are religious minded. "They have Islam and
political capitalism, but they dont have political Islam. But then we are not imposing anything on them," he comments.
Dr Syed Golam Mowla says, "Islam is the greatest ideology and we are working on the basis of this ideology. The change that our
society needs can take place only when peoples ideas and thoughts are changed. We are trying to change peoples ideas."
Hizbut Tahrir funds
Hizbut Tahrir spends around Tk 60,000 per month on seminars, discussions, leaflets, posters and other organizational activities. Where
do the funds come from? "Its true that we dont have a fixed source of income, but our leaders and activists have been providing the
funds for the partys activities. We also seek financial assistance from the people on various issues," Ahmed explains.
Media and Publicity Secretary Mustafa Minhaj says, "People who are with us have come mostly from solvent families. They dont find it
a burden to bear such trifling amounts." Golam Mowla says, "People contribute because they enjoy doing those things. If we are happy
to spend a certain part of our income for the party, no one should have any problem there."
Hizbut Tahrir spends around Tk 60,000 per month on seminars, discussions, leaflets, posters and other organizational activities. Where
do the funds come from? "Its true that we dont have a fixed source of income, but our leaders and activists have been providing the
funds for the partys activities. We also seek financial assistance from the people on various issues," Ahmed explains.
Media and Publicity Secretary Mustafa Minhaj says, "People who are with us have come mostly from solvent families. They dont find it
a burden to bear such trifling amounts." Golam Mowla says, "People contribute because they enjoy doing those things. If we are happy
to spend a certain part of our income for the party, no one should have any problem there."
Profiles
Dr Syed Golam Mowla
Mowla was born in Comilla sadar in July 1958. He stood first in the Comilla Board SSC examination in 1973. He once again stood first
in HSC examination from Chittagong Commerce College. He then took admission at Dhaka Universitys Management Department and
stood first class first in both Honours and Masters. In 1983 he joined DU as a lecturer. He then won a Commonwealth Scholarship in
1992 and did PhD in International Business. The founding coordinator of Hizbut Tahrir in Bangladesh, Mowla is at present an advisor to
the party
Mowla was born in Comilla sadar in July 1958. He stood first in the Comilla Board SSC examination in 1973. He once again stood first
in HSC examination from Chittagong Commerce College. He then took admission at Dhaka Universitys Management Department and
stood first class first in both Honours and Masters. In 1983 he joined DU as a lecturer. He then won a Commonwealth Scholarship in
1992 and did PhD in International Business. The founding coordinator of Hizbut Tahrir in Bangladesh, Mowla is at present an advisor to
the party
.
Mohiuddin Ahmed
Mohiuddin Ahmed was born at Bhawal Rajbari in Sripur under Gazipur district in 1975. He passed his SSC from Uttara Civil Aviation
School in 1990 and HSC from Notre Dame College in 1992. He then did BBA and MBA from Dhaka Universitys IBA and then joined
IBA as a lecturer in 2001. At present he is the chief coordinator and spokesperson of Hizbut Tahrir in Bangladesh.
Source: Probe Magazine March 2006 Issue
http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=827
http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=827
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