It seems that the Muhammad Yunus interim government has failed in curtailing the radicals in the country after Sheikh Hasina’s government’s ouster. Bangladesh’s banned Islamist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir took out a rally in Dhaka after ‘Jumma’ prayers on Friday. Their rally is titled ‘March for Khilafath’.
The Hizb ut-Tahrir outfit was banned in October 2009. But, today they convened an open rally by gathering on streets and holding banners in hand. The group started the rally from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Friday prayers.
Dhaka Tribune reported that a clash broke out between police and members of the banned organisation near the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the nation’s capital. Law enforcement intervened to stop the procession, leading to a violent altercation.
To disperse the crowd and regain control, police fired tear gas shells and sound grenades. Demonstrators scattered temporarily but they later regrouped and attempted to continue their procession, reported Dhaka Tribune.
Hizb ut-Tahrir advocates for the establishment of a global Islamic Caliphate, or Khilafah, which it claims would unite all Muslim-majority countries under a single Islamic government.
Earlier in February, Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka, admitted that Islamist groups in Bangladesh have got more freedom after Sheikh Hasina left the country.
Kalimullah, while speaking to ANI, said that several banned Islamist outfits are active in Bangladesh and are even holding press conferences.
“Islamists, they have succeeded in carving out larger space in the public domain. And Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strengthened its position. Hefazat-e-Islam movement has become more strong. Personalities such as Peer of Charmoni has gained prominence. Even Hizb ut-Tahrir, they are an outlaw organization, but they’re visible. They are coming up with leaflets, posters and also in different places they are waving their flags, they’re marching in the streets even convened press conferences. So officially this outfit is not a legal entity till now and their media coordinator is behind the bar. So, officially the ban is still there but in reality they are functioning,” he said.
