The current turmoil in Bangladesh relates to recent pronouncements of its so-called International War Crimes Tribunal, which is being condemned by Amnesty International and other Human Rights Organisations. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is the main target whose top leaders have been convicted for alleged war crimes during Bangladesh Liberation war in 1971. BJI and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party along with other religious parties are agitating against Hasina’s Awami League Government.
Due to ignorance or prejudice Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is also being targeted. The media is giving an impression that the Jamaats of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Jammu and Kashmir are one and the same, hence responsible for each other’s activities. In fact, just after the Partition of India, Jamaat-e-Islami was also partitioned. Jamaat of J&K also split off from India’s Jamaat. Like other divided parties, there had been no link between these four divisions of the Jamaat. Their policies, leaderships, constitutions, and programmes are independent and separate. Is it justified to blame the Indian Jamaat for the acts of the Jamaats of Pakistan, Bangladesh and J&K?
The Jamaat of India should be judged by its vast literature in various languages, by its constructive, humanitarian and peaceful policies, programmes and by the character of its members and its 65 years brilliant record of national, social and humanitarian services.
G. Hasnain Kaif
Bhandara, Maharashtra