Bangladesh Proscribes Hizb ut-Tahrir

By Animesh Roul

The Bangladesh government has finally imposed proscription on the transnational Islamic religious-political organization Hizbut-Tahrir’s country chapter on Oct 22, for its 'anti-state', 'anti-government', 'anti-people' and 'anti-democratic' activities in the country. The government however, ruled out the possibility of charging Hizb ut-Tahrir- Bangladesh (HT-B) activists for their past offences in the country, but warned them of grim action if they continue their anti-state activities further.

Despite the ban, the HT-B’ website which is still active and operational criticized the present government in these following words:

"The oppressive Awami League government, agents of US-India-Britain banned Hizb ut-Tahrir due to the party’s stance on the side of the defence forces of the country and leading the work for re-establishing the Khilafah (Caliphate)."

HT-B has been under scanner for quite some time for its involvement with proscribed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Hizb-ut Towhid and other Islamic terror organizations.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, a transnational Islamic movement was founded in Jerusalem in 1953 by Tokiuddin Al Nakhani. HT believes in Ummatic concept (global Muslim brotherhood, not the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood (MB) movement). The website openly declares that :

"It aims to revive the Islamic Ummah from the severe decline that it had reached, and to liberate it from the thoughts, systems and laws of Kufr, as well as the domination and influence of the Kufr states. It also aims to restore the Islamic Khilafah State so that the ruling by what Allah revealed returns."

The Dhaka Unversity professor Mohiuddin Ahmed who is the chief of HT-B denied the allegations brought against the organisation in a statement realsed by the outft. It claimed that the outft will continue with its movement for a Muslim Ummah. According to Mohiuddin Ahmed's revelation, HT-B has units at all divisional headquarters and have around 10,000 members across the country.

On the line of fire:

HT-B became the fifth militant outfit to be outlawed in Bangladesh following Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh and Shahadat-e Al Hikma.

There are other overground Islamic organizations in Bangladesh which have been carrying out subversive activities or suspected for supporting terrorism in the country. The government plans to impose ban on them as well in due course.

They are: Islamic Democratic Party, Hizb-ut Towhid, Allahr Dal, Islami Samaj, Al-Harat al-Islamia, Jama'atul Faliya, Towhidi Janata, Bishwa Islami Front, Juma'atul al Sadat, Shahadat-e-Nobuwat, Jama'at-e Yahia al Turat, Joyshe Mostafa Bangladesh, al Jihad Bangladesh, Woarat Islamic Front, Jamaat-as-Sadat, al Khidmat, Harkat-e-Islam al Jihad, Hizbullah Islami Samaj, Muslim Millat Shariah Council, World Islamic Front for Jihad, Joysh-e Mohammad, Hizbul Mahadi, Kalemar Dawat, Islami Dawati Kafela, al Islam Martyrs Brigade, Dawat-e Islam, Tanjim, Hizb e Abu Omar, and Jadid al-Qaeda Bangladesh.