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| Bangladesh |
| Bangla: Awami League scraps fatwa deal with bigots |
| 2007-02-13 |
| Awami League (AL) yesterday cancelled the controversial five-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) over issuance of fatwas with Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (BKM). AL also cancelled all deals, agreements and seat sharing with different political parties in the grand alliance including 14-party coalition, which had been made prior to the cancellation of January 22 parliamentary polls. "We had made some deals and agreements with some parties as part of our election strategy centring the January 22 poll. Since the election was cancelled, those deals and agreements have automatically been cancelled," AL Acting General Secretary Obaidul Quader told The Daily Star yesterday. AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil signed the MoU going to the Azimpur residence of BKM Chairman Azizul Haque on December 23 last year, which stipulated that certified alems (Islamic clerics) would have the authority to issue fatwas in the country if the grand electoral alliance could come to power. "And how many alems are certifiable?" "Most of 'em." The other points of the MoU included promises to impose a bar on enacting any law that would go against Quranic values, initiation of steps for proper implementation of the government initiative to recognise the degrees awarded by Qaumi Madrasas, and a ban on criticisms of Prophet Muhammad. All the usual Islamo-hooey, from a putatively secular party. With AL signing the deal to bring BKM into the fold of the grand alliance, it faced severe criticisms from different national and international quarters and even from inside the party. The deal also gave rise to grievances and frustrations inside AL and other components of the grand alliance, and disappointed many other political parties, socio-cultural organisations and people of all walks of life. At the time the AL general secretary repeatedly criticised the media saying that they misinterpreted the deal and claiming that the deal was not against the concept of secularism. "No, no! Certainly not! Think of it as... ummm... Koranic secularism." Quader, who spoke as an AL spokesman yesterday, however said the political unity among the components of the grand alliance will continue. "But all the written deals or agreements and seat sharing with all the parties have been cancelled," said the AL leader adding that they will think afresh about signing deals or reaching agreements with the grand alliance partners in a new situation when a fresh schedule for the upcoming parliamentary polls will be announced. Asked whether they will sign the MoU again with BKM, the AL leader brushed aside the possibility and said they have not thought of it yet. As the election was cancelled, their strategies will change in the new situation, he said. Asked when the decision of cancelling the MoU was taken, Quader declined to comment. But sources said AL President Sheikh Hasina instructed Quader yesterday morning to issue a media statement about the cancellation of the MoU. Asked whether AL informed BKM about the cancellation of the deal, Quader said they [BKM leaders] would know about it from the media. When contacted, BKM Secretary General Yusuf Ashraf said they were not formally informed about the cancellation of the MoU. "We heard about it on television news and will give a formal reaction on the matter after discussing it in the party forum," said Ashraf. Following the cancellation of the deal, AL's allies in the grand alliance welcomed it. Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon told The Daily Star that they opposed the deal from the very beginning and repeatedly asked AL to cancel it saying it contradicts the 23-point common national minimum programme of 14-party coalition. "As Awami League has scrapped the deal, I welcome the decision," said Menon, also a key leader of 14-party. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu praised AL President Sheikh Hasina for cancelling the controversial deal with BKM. He said the AL chief took a strong political decision, which will strengthen the politics of establishing a democratic and non-communal country. "The decision was imperative to take 14-party coalition forward," Inu, also a key leader of the coalition told The Daily Star. |
| Posted by:Fred |