Whats your view on this?
I totally agree with you about the Awami League's tactics. The AL lost elections that were declared free and fair by independent international observers. It lost the elections because it was incompetent in power and incompetent at fighting elections. Instead of trying to disrupt the country's political stability and created deep divides within Bangladeshi society, it should have made its party organisation more efficient and inclusive. This requires some sort of self-critique and a swallowing of pride for the sake of the nation. Nobody will gain out of the current state of affairs - least of all Hasina.
Well, I must say this is a balanced comparison.
... and yes, I used to be Jamaat's unpaid webmaster. Till they find another volunteer, that website is mine.
BNP website took forever to finish loading with my high speed internet...
Anyway, I find it rather disturbing that Hasina is refusing to co-operate with Khaleda. May be this is the only chance to build the burning bridge and start working together. This is first time I'm seeing Khaleda is trying to act rational but Hasina is refusing to act the way she should.
Jamaat has some identical declarations as AL:
Promote and strengthen democracy.
Recognition of human rights irrespective of cast, colour, creed, and sex.
Freedom of speech and expression.
Freedom of religion and protection of minorities.
Strong defense.
This is only to show that not only AL, others do talk about democracy and human rights.
It is plain wrong to try to portray AL as the champion of democracy and human rights. Almost all secular parties claim these ideologies to be unequivocally attributed after their name. Sad thing is when they are in power they forget those principles and start acting like ignorant. Moreover these parties do not practice democracy within their organisational scope. How come we expect them to be the defenders of democracy?
Interesting that we can talk about wanting democracy in Bangladesh when in the US and the UK, both supposed defenders of the concept, Democracy seems to be dying. In a 2 horse presidential race where both candidates are effectively neighbours across a central divide, where is the democracy in that?
In the UK where we effectively have no credible opposition, again democracy is going out of the window.
I don't understand so much of these recent posts. I barely understand the political scene here in the U.S. But I wish people didn't have to go through so darn much when trying to have effective government.
I know this sounds crazy, but I wish we could do away with government altogether. If people would only be more responsible for themselves and each other. But I know there are always those who need to be ruled.
Tough. Thanks for sharing, Rezwan.
Thanks everybody for your views.
Yeah Laura, I agree, if we could do away with governments. But then we, humans are not civil enough to live on our own and protect other's interests.
Shapps: this is the negative side of the democracy where the thoughts (even if 49%) that are repressed under the majority (even if only 51%). But the goal of political parties advocating democracy should be to uphold/reflect all the public interests and whether it is in US, UK or in Bangladesh, the minority views are not honored as it should be as the majority parties claim theoretically.
Wamy: Jamaat-e-Islami has been stereotyped by many as a force threatening to our democracy because of their theocratic ideologies and their role in the war of independence. But there are many people who are within its well stuctured party framework and its loyals. In a democratic outset it would be wrong to negate their contribution and involvement. But Jamaat has not been successful in getting out of the stereotyped notions of common people. Because Jamaat has been silent against many accusations against them that they endorse/sponsor the subversive activities of the Islami radicalists. I think everytime Jamaat should clarify their position in respect to these radicals if they claim not to be part of their activities. So that the stereotyping would stop. E.g. what is the Jamaat's view about Bangla Bhai?
Do they endorse using Madrassas as training ground for extremists?
Rezwan, you are absolutely right. Stereotypes are killing the Islamists all over the world. And guess, from whom they are mostly attacked! The so called progressive and enlightened section of the society, who are supposed to think freely, without any prejudices and stereotypes in mind. We can only hope that they come to their senses. At the same time Islamist are lacking dynamic leadership who can fight back media terrorism effectively with counter or alternative media.
I don't speak for Jamaat leadership. It seems to me that Bangla bhai is not much of a headache. But by Islamic standards and its constitution, Jmaat cannot condone terrorism. This is also a failure of the leadership to cope up with post-modern problems created by external forces.
opps! sorry for double post.
I am surprised Rezwan!!!
"But they have some good leaders too and they have capabilities to contribute in the democracy too....."
1) Just name one Jamati "Good Leader". It will be interesting to know one of his “contributions” to our society.
2)It appears to me that you do not see Jamat as fundamentalist.
3) Democratic society and theocratic society (or Nizami as PM---touch wood) are two different things.
.....continued
4) 30 years ago, Jamati sympathizers were almost zero among the educated urban youth. I see their success not in 17 seats but in their ability to get the attention of young educated Bangladeshis. They have infiltrated in every aspect of BD society. The Jamati prescription is the same, only their presentation and approach is different. Jamat under the leadership of Nizami & Co has mastered the art of hiding it’s true color.
5) I think, many of these uni educated Jamati youths follow them just to be against the wind or just to be different, or out of frustration generated from the socio-economical scenario of BD, not because they love their practice.
6) As one of your post says, "And Everything Will Be in the Custody of the Damned"
Wamy:
But by Islamic standards and its constitution, Jmaat cannot condone terrorism. - please explain this.
Vincents' Blue:
I was talking about this stereotyping. Think about this. A family consists of members who are activists of each political parties. Now suppose you say one member, Jamaat is fundamentalist, and have different view. So what would the family do? Kill the member? kick him out on the street so that he/she can wage war against the family? Or talk him out so that he/she can contribute to the family. The Jamaat & their supporters are also a part of the society. They are used by both AL & BNP to clinch the throne.
...contd..
Maybe one of the reason of their angers are that they are looked down upon in hatred, they face discrimination. If they commit crime they should be punished. Because linking terrorism with Islam is sheer Bulshit they are playing. But what we are doing? We are stereotyping/ labeling all Jamaat supporters (6% of population) as subversive against the nation. If you narrow down your view, then what option you have left? You will face a bloody civil war. Because they are going to fight back against the discrimination. And its wrong. Think about true democratic countries. The only way to tackle bigotism is to show them light, not trying to eliminate the persons and negating their contribution from the society. And what contribution? I don't know much about any Jamaati Leaders, But the one's who are lawmakers, apart from their fundamentalist views, I hear many of them are free from corruption.
Rezwan, what exactly you didn't understand in the following line?
"But by Islamic standards and its constitution, Jamaat cannot condone terrorism."
"Condone" here means accept, endure, or tolerate.
Vincent'sBlue, you can only hypothesize. You don't have any practical knowledge, whatsoever, of what goes on in the minds of those educated youth. When people join an ideological organisation, be it Islamic or socialist, they go through a process of justification. This process and their decision are mostly cognitive because otherwise no one would choose a party that is based on ideology and devoid of materialistic gain, full of controversy and hated by many. So, your claim, "uni educated Jamati youths follow them just to be against the wind ... not because they love their practice" is not agreeable.
... continued
However, many scholars agree that "frustration generated by socio-economic scenario" is one of the reasons Islamic and socialist parties are gaining support among the educated mass. If traditional sources of power, like BNP and AL, cannot bring economic stability, cannot clump down terrorism, corruption, oppression, repression, whatever, then these alternatives have a grater chance to win the hearts and minds of the people. So, face this.
Rezwan,
Your prospective seems to me too linear, too simplistic, but it's a big satisfaction to see that you, a young deshi, is an uniter not a divider.
Why don't you talk to a Jamati "Shati" or "Rokon". Do not confront him, just ask him about his views and you will see the difference between him and the your next door neighbor who prays five times in a mosque.
Dear Bro Wammy: "And miles to go before "YOU" sleep."
Rezwan, thanks for a really informative post. I had been in the dark about Bangldeshi political configurations but this is quite insightful
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