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 oper-
ating 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 vol-
untary repatriation of over 800,000 Rohingya Muslims 
who have taken refuge in Bangladesh from religious and 
political persecution in Myanmar; 
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Whereas national elections are expected to take place in Ban-
gladesh 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 Novem-
ber 2013 and January 2014, according to the Ban-
gladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council; 
Whereas Jamaat-e-Islami activists have been involved in re-
cent 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 theo-
cratic extremist groups pose an immediate and ongoing 
threat to Bangladesh’s stability and secular democracy, 
and religious minorities remain at grave risk of con-
tinuing violence; 
Whereas former NATO Allied Land Command leader General 
John W. Nicholson has expressed growing concern re-
garding 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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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 sec-
ular democracy in Bangladesh, while preventing the 
growth of religious extremism and militancy: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) acknowledges the victims of the 1971 War 
of Independence and the spirit of secular democracy 
on which Bangladesh was founded; 
(2) calls on the Government of Bangladesh to 
stop radical organizations, such as Jamaat-e-Islami, 
Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Hefazat-e-Islam, who 
pose an ongoing threat to the country’s stability and 
secular democracy; 
(3) calls on the Government of Bangladesh to 
heed the Bangladesh Election Commission’s request 
to ensure security for minorities and maintain com-
munal harmony for a peaceful election; and 
(4) calls on the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development and the State Department to 
halt all partnerships and funding arrangements with 
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groups 
affiliated 
with 
Jamaat-e-Islami, 
Islami 
Chhatra Shibir, and Hefazat-e-Islam. 
Æ 
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