IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1156 

Expressing concern about the threat posed to democracy and the democratic 

process by theocratic groups operating in Bangladesh. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 20, 2018 

Mr. BANKS of Indiana submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing concern about the threat posed to democracy 

and the democratic process by theocratic groups operating in Bangladesh. 

Whereas the nation of Bangladesh achieved independence in 

1971 and established a secular democratic state, which is 

home to over 163,000,000 Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, 

Christians, and atheists; 

Whereas this freedom was won at the cost of approximately 

3,000,000 deaths, more than 10,000,000 displaced, and 

200,000 women raped, many at the hands of Islamist 

militants led by Jamaat-e-Islami; 

Whereas Bangladesh plays a critical role in the safe and voluntary repatriation of over 800,000 Rohingya Muslims 

who have taken refuge in Bangladesh from religious and 

political persecution in Myanmar; 


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•HRES 1156 IH 

Whereas national elections are expected to take place in Bangladesh on December 30, 2018; 

Whereas religious minorities were targeted by the Bangladesh 

Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Islami Chhatra 

Shibir, during previous elections, as a result of which 495 

Hindu homes were damaged, 585 shops were attacked or 

looted, and 169 temples were vandalized between November 2013 and January 2014, according to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council; 

Whereas Jamaat-e-Islami activists have been involved in recent attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh; 

Whereas religious extremists have also attacked Buddhists, 

Christians, and Ahmadi Muslims; 

Whereas the extremist group Hefazat-e-Islam is organizing a 

movement to fundamentally transform Bangladesh from 

a secular democracy into a totalitarian theocracy; 

Whereas Hefazat-e-Islam has threatened to carry out an 

armed jihad against the Government of Bangladesh if its 

demands are not met; 

Whereas Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, and other theocratic extremist groups pose an immediate and ongoing 

threat to Bangladesh’s stability and secular democracy, 

and religious minorities remain at grave risk of continuing violence; 

Whereas former NATO Allied Land Command leader General 

John W. Nicholson has expressed growing concern regarding al-Qaida activities in Bangladesh; 

Whereas repeated attacks on religious minorities, expanding 

religious intolerance, and growing destabilization caused 

by radical groups, including JeI and Islami Chhatra 


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•HRES 1156 IH 

Shibir, undermine United States economic and strategic 

interests in Bangladesh; 

Whereas there is a growing trend of Islamic extremism in 

Bangladesh tied to pro-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria 

activity, with several arrests of Islamists linked with the 

terrorist group made in recent years; and 

Whereas the United States should more actively engage with 

the Government of Bangladesh over their shared interests 

in safeguarding human rights, religious freedom, and secular democracy in Bangladesh, while preventing the 

growth of religious extremism and militancy: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) acknowledges the victims of the 1971 War 

3 of Independence and the spirit of secular democracy 

4 on which Bangladesh was founded; 

5 (2) calls on the Government of Bangladesh to 

6 stop radical organizations, such as Jamaat-e-Islami, 

7 Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Hefazat-e-Islam, who 

8 pose an ongoing threat to the country’s stability and 

9 secular democracy; 

10 (3) calls on the Government of Bangladesh to 

11 heed the Bangladesh Election Commission’s request 

12 to ensure security for minorities and maintain com13 munal harmony for a peaceful election; and 

14 (4) calls on the United States Agency for Inter15 national Development and the State Department to 

16 halt all partnerships and funding arrangements with 


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•HRES 1156 IH 

1 groups affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami 

2 Chhatra Shibir, and Hefazat-e-Islam. 

Æ 


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