From: naeem@occs.cs.oberlin.edu (Naeem Mohaiemen)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Jamaat's rise in power
Date: 14 Apr 92 22:13:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: occs.NAEEM.92Apr14171314
	<1992Apr10.002029.22221@cs.yale.edu>
Organization: Oberlin College Computer Science

In article <1992Apr10.002029.22221@cs.yale.edu> ahmed-shakil@CS.YALE.EDU (Shakil Waiz Ahmed) writes:

   Clearly, the current administration has a somewhat different outlook
   on the situation than the past ones had.  Ghulam Azam could not have
   bee arrested otherwise.
------------

Actually, if you look at the chronology, Jamaat's position has improved with
each government:

Mujib govt: General amnesty, in defiance of angry protests from committee of 
relatives of war dead [including Johir Raihan, etc].

Zia govt: Islamic republic declared, ban lifted on religion based parties, 
Jamaat party reforms, active effort by Zia to rehabilitate razakars ["national
reconciliation"], known razakar Shah aziz appointed PM.

Ershad govt: Known razakar and second in command of 'al badr' killer squads in
1971, Moulana M A Mannan, appointed religion minister-- later resigns. Islam
as state religion enshrined in constitution, attacks on Hindu homes on the 
rise, Jamaat student wing Shibir gains stronghold on Chittagong University.
  
Interim govt: Shibir blockades Chittagong University in protest of VC's 
comments against Shibir/Jamaat, stops all classes in call for VC's resignation
-- classes remain shut down for over a year. Shibir attacks a procession 
of faculty and teachers attempting to restart classes, approximately 6 faculty
members and a hundred students wounded in clash. Two students die. 

Khaleda govt: Jamaat forms coalition govt with BNP, the party's first time
with parliamentary clout since liberation. Election officials say appr. 60%
of Jamaat's parliamentary candidates were professionals, the largest of any
political party candidates-- Jamaat ends up with third highest tally of seats.
Known razakar and assistant to Gulam Azam in 1971, Moulana Motiur Rahman 
Nizami heads parliamentary bloc. Nizami invited to Dhaka University to attend
meeting, furious mob of students attack him, Nizami is badly hurt. Govt issues
strong condemnation, in spite of fact that large portion of the mob was from
their student wing. Chittaging University VC forced out of office as a result
of yearlong campaign by Shibir, Shibir sympathetic professors gain upper hand
in faculty meetings. Gulam azam elected ameer of Jamaat in December. Jamaat
threatens civil war in face of mock trial. Huge pro-Azam demonstrations in
areas all over Dhaka. Baitul Mokarram moulvi and others issue statement in
support of Azam. Azam's arrest prompts threat from Jamaat leaders to unseat
BNP govt unless he is released. Organizers of mock trial under house arrest.



[On documentation]


   2.) Have you looked at his visa and passport?
--------

He surrendered his passport in order to apply for a Bangladeshi passport
[so Jamaat spokesman claimed last year]. His original visa was for 3-6 months
and expired in 1978, it was never renewed. Bichitra published a photocopy
of azam's passport a few years back. In addition, a copy of his passport
was obtained for parliament debate on Foreigners' Citizenship Act, during
ershad govt.

   3.) Have you personally had access to any of the evidence relating to
   deaths of intellectuals?
---------

Ajker Kagoj reprinted chronology of activities of 'al badr' and 'al shams'
over the last three months of war. Many of the public statements at conferences
were from Gulam Azam and Moulana Mannan.


   5.) Have you personally had access to documents that show he is the
   leader of any political party?  
----------
Gulam Azam's election as Ameer of Jamaat in December of 1991 was reported 
by United News of Bangladesh (UNB) and Bangladesh Shangbad Shongstha (BSS)
and in Dhaka Courier, Dec 1991.

[Note: The above is not commentary on 'fashi' debate, merely referring to some
sources of documentation. If interested, please contact Bangladesh Mukthijodhya
Kolyan Shomithi-- publishers of "Ekattur er Dalal o Ghatok era", etc]

--
Naeem Mohaiemen  naeem@occs.cs.oberlin.edu  snm8696@oberlin  216-774-1993
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"God forbid if Pakistan should ever break up"
				[Gulam Azam, press conference]
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh