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| Bangladesh |
| Jamaat readies alternative leadership |
| 2010-04-20 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Ignoring resentment in the party, Jamaat-e-Islami high-ups have agreed to replace high-ranking leaders of the party after the possible arrest of some of its leaders for their alleged involvement in war crimes in 1971. Sources said most of the leaders and workers of Jamaat and its different front organisations are worried about possible arrest of all top leaders, which might create a serious vacuum and their absence may lead to desertion of Jamaat by field-level activists. Highly-placed sources said the party leaders are considering to have a alternative leadership ready against whom there are no war-crime allegations so that they could run the party after the arrests. They said the party is passing its worst-ever time now after the Awami League government set up the International Crimes Tribunal to try people involved in crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War. Sources in Jamaat said the party high-ups were under the impression that the government would not be able to set up the tribunal to try those people. After formation of the tribunal, party leaders seem very disorganised and many attempted to leave the country. Sources said majority of the young leaders and activists, especially those born a few years before and after the independence, opined that it would be wise for the party to relinquish the leaders, with war-crime allegation against them, for the greater interest of the party. They think if those leaders are removed from the party's portfolio the party might not face any difficulty rather it would improve its image. It is hard to make such a decision as most of the top-ranking leaders were allegedly involved in war crimes and they have strong influence in the party. Jamaat leaders say if chief Matiur Rahman Nizami is arrested then the next in line to lead is Nayebe Ameer Moulana Yusuf or Delwar Hossain Sayedee. Both of them have allegation of war crimes against them. If all of them are arrested, Jamaat decided that the third Nayebe Ameer Makbul Ahmed would be the acting ameer of Jamaat. There is a similar problem in the second most important post in Jamaat. Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and three assistant secretaries general--Mohammad Qamaruzzaman, Abdul Kader Mollah and ATM Azharul Islam--also have war crimes allegations against them and all of them could be arrested. In this context, Jamaat leaders are considering another assistant secretary general barrister Abdur Razzak who would step in as secretary general. Similarly, there will be changes in other posts and process to form second front of leadership is almost finalised. |
| Posted by:Fred |