Photo: Collected
This time, Islamic parties are striving to elevate the Palestinian issue. The groundwork has already commenced, with several groups, including Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and Khilafat Majlis, organising protests and rallies on this matter over the past two weeks.
The leaders of these groups assert that their movement will persist, advocating for an end to the ongoing Israeli genocide and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Furthermore, they emphasise the importance of keeping politics out of this humanitarian issue.
Israeli brutality has persisted in Palestine for several months, sparking global outrage against Israeli oppression. Protests in various forms are ongoing worldwide, including within the country. Bangladesh's Islamic parties have also been actively protesting from the outset. After a brief period of silence during the election period, the leaders of Islamic parties have once again become active on this issue.
On May 10, Charmonai Pir's Islamic movement organised a protest rally in front of the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in the capital, calling for the declaration of an independent state for Palestine. Naib Ameer Mufti Faizul Karim of the party addressed the gathering and announced the next programme. As per the announced programme, the party conducted a nationwide protest rally on May 17. Additionally, the party has scheduled a mass rally in Dhaka on May 31, which will be led by the party's Amir and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim. The Islamic movement is gearing up for a significant demonstration during the mass procession.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh Secretary General Yunus Ahmad informed The Daily Messenger that there is a mass march scheduled for May 31.
“We are actively working to bolster the participation in this programme.”
He emphasised that on this issue, the Islamic movement will be actively engaged on the ground. He stressed that it is imperative to take to the streets not just as a political party but also as individuals. He asserted that there is no room for politics in this matter.
Furthermore, Jamaat-e-Islami organised a protest march in Dhaka on May 9 and at the district level on May 10. The administration usually takes a strict stance whenever Jamaat-e-Islami, a religious political party, attempts to mobilise on any other issue. However, there have been no reports of interference with this programme anywhere in the country. Sources within the party indicate that Jamaat is contemplating organising another event on the same issue later this month. Following the 12th National Assembly elections, the party has been unable to mobilise on any specific issue, but it sees an opportunity to do so with this current issue.
Adv Helal Uddin, a Shura member of Jamaat's Central Majlis and Nayeb Amir of Dhaka Metropolitan South, expressed to The Daily Messenger that terrorist Israel continues to perpetrate massacres in the holy land of Muslims in Palestine. He condemned Israel as an occupying terrorist state that has been carrying out attacks on Palestinian Muslims since 1948, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. He emphasised that the demand to immediately halt these actions and declare an independent Palestinian state is a matter of conscience. Helal Uddin stated that not only Jamaat-e-Islami but also religious people across the country will stand in solidarity on this issue. He warned that if the situation is not addressed, the party may organise further programmes in the future. He urged all parties involved not to politicise the issue of Palestine and to focus on humanitarian concerns.
Additionally, on April 26, Khilafat Majlis organised a procession and rally in the capital on the same issue. It is reported that the party plans to hold another programme later this month, during the last week. Moreover, Jamiat Ulama Islam, AB Party, and various other small and large Islamic parties frequently organise events on this issue.
Messenger/Fameema
