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Bangladesh: Growing Influence of Muslim Fundamentalists
9 February 2001
Summary
At least nine people were killed and 100 others injured Feb. 5 and 6 in fierce clashes between police and Muslim hard-liners in Bangladesh. A high court verdict banning the use of fatwas, or religious edicts, by Muslim clerics sparked the violence. Now, major opposition forces are attacking the government's policies and Muslim extremist forces have managed to enter the mainstream political scene, cooperating with both secular and Islamic political opposition. This may evolve into a political crisis with the prospect of Islamic fundamentalists coming to power.
Analysis
Calm returned to Bangladesh Feb. 9 after a week of widespread protests and demonstrations that left at least 10 dead and more than 100 injured. The current political turmoil was prompted by a high court verdict banning the use of fatwas, or religious edicts, by Muslim clerics, that in effect substituted civil law in the countryside. International human rights groups welcomed the decision, but the court ruling has caused a strong violent protest among Muslim fundamentalists. Most of the unrest occurred near the port city of Chittagong, the eastern district of Brahmanbaria, and in the Bangladesh capital of Dacca, local police told official Bangladesh BSS News Agency.
While violence and widespread demonstrations are not uncommon in Bangladesh, a new dynamic emerged over the last week that could have long-lasting consequences for the South Asian nation's political system. The anti-government protests brought together the main opposition parties with smaller political and religious organizations. More important, Muslim extremist forces, formerly outside the political mainstream in Bangladesh, managed to enter the political scene and cooperate with both secular and Islamic political opposition.
Bangladesh, which lies between India and Myanmar, occupies an important geopolitical location controlling sea routes from Southeast Asia to India. Foreign investors and world powers covet its vast, untapped natural gas resources. Yet, the nationalistic Bangladesh government refuses to allow foreign investors to exploit its gas riches. So far, neither India, China, international radical Muslim forces nor the West have managed to establish a reliable foothold in the country and influence its policy.
The latest violence began with the death of a policeman in a mosque Feb. 3, according to local media reports. Security forces cracked down on Muslim protesters and arrested two leaders from the right-wing opposition party. In the aftermath, the opposition alliance called for a general strike that started Feb. 7. Muslim activists have also embarked upon a sabotage campaign; the same day they derailed a train, causing casualties.
But the roots of the current political crisis burrow deeper than the court decision. The current prime minister, Sheikh Wajed Hasina, is the daughter of the late Majibur Rakhman, the founder of Bangladesh as an independent state in 1971. He was later killed in a successful coup attempt. Hasina's nationalist secular regime strongly favors relatives and cronies of her clan, the richest in the country. Western human rights groups have complained of corruption and police repression.
The opposition has skillfully turned these foibles into political weapons. Both secular and Muslim forces are united in an alliance led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The opposition has decided to use the anti-fatwa ruling to initiate a political crisis in the hope of toppling the government in the long run.
The current crisis marks a significant change in the country's politics. All four major parties of the opposition alliance, as well as smaller political and religious organizations, have joined forces in mass protest and participated in the general strike. Moreover, Muslim extremist forces outside mainstream politics have been welcomed onto the political scene to cooperate with both secular and Islamic political opposition.
These radical Islamic forces, such as Freedom in Bangladesh and Karakatul Jehad al Islami, have played a role in organizing and provoking the current violence. They are strongly backed by foreign Islamic extremist organizations, including the infamous Osama bin Laden.
The secular opposition, in hopes of creating a secular government, is attempting to capitalize on the grassroots protests organized by Muslim activists.
But Muslim opposition wants to create an Islamic state in Bangladesh, probably one that resembles that of Saudi Arabia rather than Afghanistan. Muslim fundamentalists, namely Islami Oikkya Jote (IOJ) and Jamaat-e-Islami party, have strong backing from the rural population.
Though these extremist organizations have extended their popular base in villages, they are unlikely to come to power in the near future. Their supporters fail to constitute a majority in the country. More dangerous for secular rule in Bangladesh, however, is that the mainstream Islamic opposition may accept these radical Muslim groups and act as a united front to topple the current government.
The regime may survive this time because the various opposition forces do not have a united agenda. The political alliance among opposition forces in Bangladesh is fragile; their only uniting factor is the desire to ride the momentum of current unrest. This does not amount to a coalition with a program of coordinated anti-government actions.
As well, the secular opposition may back off from continuing mass protests as it recognizes the rapidly growing influence of the Muslim fundamentalist parties. This means that the secular opposition may choose the current regime as a lesser evil.
But Bangladesh's political landscape will never be the same. With Islamic extremist forces entering the nation's mainstream life now, a precedent is being created that would facilitate the Islamization of Bangladesh's politics. |
