Non-Political Muslims Brought BNP to Power: AMM Bahauddin

Mr. AMM Bahauddin, president of Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarreseen and editor of the Daily Inqilab, said that anyone who comes to power in this country must have the support of the 92 percent Muslims. The same support is needed to stay in power. Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarreseen is a non-political organisation of madrasa teachers and staff. He reminded everyone that in the last election, Muslims from all the darbars, who practise Islam without politics, voted for BNP and Mr. Tarique Rahman and brought them to power.

Mr. Bahauddin said BNP may have won Hindu votes this time for tactical reasons. He said Hindus will leave in a moment if they find another option, and they will not stay. So the government must work the way Shaheed President Mr. Ziaur Rahman did. He kept the Alems and Ulamas close and worked with them.

Mr. Bahauddin spoke at the executive committee meeting of Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarreseen on Saturday. The meeting took place at Gausul Azam Complex in Mohakhali, Dhaka. Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarreseen is the largest apolitical organisation of madrasa teachers and staff.

The Inqilab editor said the government lacks barakat, or divine blessing, in its work. He said the darbars and non-political Muslims brought BNP and Mr. Tarique Rahman to power in the last election. The Pirs of Sarsina, Fultoli, Sonakanda, Jaunpuri and all other darbars worked for this. He said they asked for nothing and received nothing in return.

The Jamiatul Modarreseen president said the Alems and Ulamas will still stand united with Mr. Tarique Rahman, Inshallah. He said local elections are coming, but the government is itself stuck in many crises. It cannot easily come out of them. He said the biggest crisis is the lack of barakat, even though Mr. Tarique Rahman is doing a lot of work, talking to many people and meeting important persons.

Mr. Bahauddin said barakat will come from the company of the Alems and Ulamas. He said Mr. Tarique Rahman must expand this company, and all BNP ministers must do the same. He said there is no alternative to this.

Citing Shaheed President Mr. Ziaur Rahman, Mr. Bahauddin said that in 1977, when Mr. Zia was contesting the presidential vote, he had no party and no activists. He held a long meeting on the lawn of Bangabhaban. The meeting was led by the late Pir of Sarsina, Maulana Amirul Haque, who is the grandfather of the current Pir. Maulana Obaidul Haque and Maulana Abdul Mannan also led it.

Mr. Bahauddin said President Mr. Ziaur Rahman spoke with the Alems and Ulamas before he went to the field. He did not judge people by their dress. He judged the person and used intelligence to see who had the people of the country behind them. He sat with them on the lawn of Bangabhaban. He always gave priority to the darbars, including the Pir of Sarsina, and to Jamiatul Modarreseen under Maulana Abdul Mannan.

Mr. Bahauddin said President Mr. Ziaur Rahman understood that nothing can start in this country without them. He said the Pir of Sarsina and Maulana Abdul Mannan are there, and everything is ready for them. He warned that they must not forget their roots. He said if they forget their roots, no power can save them, as is happening to power in Saudi Arabia, which is falling apart.

Mr. Bahauddin said the country has a political crisis and uncertainty, and there is no doubt about both. He said the help of the Alems and Ulamas will be needed to get out of this. He said many people worked for Mr. Ziaur Rahman. Alems, Ulamas and mosque imams went from house to house. They pulled farmers out of the fields to vote for Mr. Zia.

Mr. Bahauddin said Mr. Zia did not win by a night vote or a vote managed by deputy commissioners, as Ms. Hasina did. He said the people voted. He asked who worked for Mr. Zia in that vote, since he had no party then. He answered that the Alems and Ulamas of the country worked for him.

Mr. Bahauddin said the Alems and Ulamas still have influence in villages and towns. He said they can play an important role for any party, whether they join a party or not. He said mosque imams and Alems and Ulamas can do this together. Mr. Zia understood this and built that foundation. He said BNP stands on that foundation, and if it weakens, BNP will face a crisis of existence.

Mr. Bahauddin said it represents all the darbars, such as Sarsina, Furfura, Fultoli, Sonakanda, Jaunpuri and Chandrapuri. He said there are 15,000 or 20,000 big and small darbars. He said all of them think alike, whether they sit in one place or not. He said the strength of Jamiat goes beyond madrasas. It goes beyond the number of madrasas and teachers.

Mr. Bahauddin said running here and there will bring no benefit. He said the government has an economic crisis, a political crisis, and an international crisis. He said Bangladesh will still run under the leadership of Mr. Tarique Rahman, Inshallah, and everyone must keep this in mind. He said the teachers of Jamiatul Modarreseen will criticise the government together so that it can stay stable and do well.

Mr. Bahauddin said that, Inshallah, the Prime Minister will take his father’s place. He said madrasa education will improve under his leadership. He said they should keep their faith and urged everyone to stay united. He said Mr. Ziaur Rahman and Ms. Khaleda Zia had plans for madrasa teachers, but Ms. Khaleda Zia could not fulfil them.

Mr. Bahauddin said this may have happened because of other crises and conspiracies. He said she understood this later and shared it with him. He said they now understand it. He asked everyone not to make the same mistake again. He said if anyone tries to go in another direction, they should say so, because joining any other organisation brings no benefit.

Mr. Bahauddin said the demands of madrasa education and teachers will be met under the leadership of Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarreseen, Inshallah. He said it is the single largest and strongest organisation of Alems, Ulamas and madrasa teachers in Bangladesh. He said Jamiat stands on one philosophy and will stay that way. He said it does not matter which teacher or institution goes in which direction.

Mr. Bahauddin said Jamaat e Islami Bangladesh cannot come to power in politics by running around. He said no force influenced by them can come to power either. He said they can act as followers, earn money and travel abroad, but they cannot take power. He asked everyone not to be confused.

Mr. Bahauddin said Jamaat may become a factor in one or two places in the coming local government elections. He said even that does not damage the main political base of the government. He said everyone will benefit if they understand this. He asked the Jamiat leaders to stay united and hopeful.

Mr. Bahauddin said they do not do politics. He said politics matters when it becomes the path to their demands and prosperity, and in that politics they must depend on the members. He said whether the government does well or badly, all darbar based people and all Jamiat members, wherever they are, must work to win the BNP-backed candidates in the local government elections.

Jamiat Secretary General Principal Shabbir Ahmed Momtazi conducted the gathering. Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon spoke virtually. Islamic Arabic University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Abu Jafar Khan and Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahidul Islam also spoke virtually.

Dr. Maulana Morshed Alam Salehi, a Muhaddis of Durbati Kamil Madrasa, recited the Holy Quran at the event. Maulana Abu Rafe Md. Ferdous, principal of Mollar Hat DS Kamil Madrasa, presented a Naat-e-Rasul. Dr. Maulana A K M Mahbubur Rahman presented a Naat he wrote himself. Senior Vice President Maulana Kabi Ruhul Amin Khan led the Dua and Munajat.