Opinion: Sheikh Hasina's dictatorial attitude leading to religious extremism in Bangladesh

There are three types of Islam, the first is the false Islam laid by the Islamic militants. The second is the Arabism which is followed particularly in the Middle East. And the third is the one followed in the nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, etc. where Muslims keep a balance between regional culture and teachings of Prophet.

Barring India, this third type of secular Islam seems to be replaced by the Arabism. Even in Bangladesh, a state formed on regionalism, political observers opinioned about the sudden rise of fanaticism across the nation. The state seems to have forgotten the ethos laid by their founding fathers. There are three pieces of evidence which justify that there is a rise in religious extremism across Bangladesh.

The first evidence is the existence of militant organizations which want to rule the lingual nation under Shira law. The political analysts fear the existence of organisations like ISIS in Bangladesh. ISIS claimed the Dhaka Airport bomb attack which took toll of about 20 people. But the state government blamed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, a local terror outfit, for the inhuman massacre. The Awami League also accused the opposition - Bangladesh Nationalist Party - of lending support to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen for destabilizing peace. Apart from this brutal and inhuman attack, the organization is said to have detonated 500 bombs at 300 different locations causing various casualties across the nation. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen is also said to kill seculars, atheists, ideologues, journalists and religious minorities. This inhuman stupidity is happening right under the nose of secular Prime Minister Hasina.

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The second instance which justifies that secularism is under axe in Bangladesh is the sudden rise in Arab-Islamic presence in Bangladesh. The rise in Arabic element started when Arab-based funders used to give donations to Madarsas in rural parts. Nowadays there is some fantasy for learning the Arabic language among some youths. The government allowed since it helped to remove stress on the fiscal expenditure. The non–Muslim allies of the deltaic nation also missed the chance to stop this unwanted shift from modernity. As I said earlier, Bengali first Muslim next state seems to go Muslim first Bengali next state.

Another drama which proves that there is a rise in religious extremism in the nation is the Rohingya issue. This sensitive issue was actually a high potential drama in our neighbouring Bangladesh. The Islamic outfits including Jamaat-e-Islami threatened PM Hasina that they would call hartals if Rohingya refugees are not rehabilitated in Bangladesh. These jobless leaders consider Rohingya as their kind and they want Bangladeshi government to protect them at any cost. It is said that Sheikh Hasina doesn’t really want to lend those refugees help since Bangladesh is itself a poverty-hit nation. Fearing those stupid leaders she is wasting the resources meant for infrastructure and poverty alleviation to help those people who are the responsibility of Myanmar. The people are not considering the lingual context of Rohingyas but they want to help them for only one fact that they are Muslims.

After the arrest of strong opposition leader and former PM Khaleda Jia, it is indicative that Hasina will play one person role in Bangladesh politics even after strong anti-incumbency since 2009.It is indicative that ruling party is playing vindictive in the arrest of Jia and her associates, thus decimating the political opposition.

Since there is no presence of strong opposition, Hasina will win this election due at the end of this year, but during next elections, if BNP remains inert in jail, the possibility of religious outfit entering their politics strongly can’t be overruled. Another political trend dictates that there is fall in the activism of socialist parties like Jatiyo Samajtantrik party and the activism of Right-wing parties like Jamaat-e-Islami party and the Islami Oikyo Jote is in a good position since Rohingya issue. Thus, not only on the ground but religion is featuring its extremity in politics as well. This is only because of the dictatorial mood of Hasina.

Hasina might be considering politics cakewalk today, but tomorrow she might fight someone more despicable and the despicable faction may win. Sheikh Hasina may fight corruption and poverty by her authoritarian principles but she must learn that she can never control fanaticism by one party principle.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)