Jamaat reformists to assemble under ‘Amra Bangladesh’

Some former leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami along with the dissident group within the party were on groundwork to launch a new political party that would not be a religion-based one rather loyal to the country’s declaration of independence.

The organisers said preparations for formation of the new party were going fast and the party was likely to be floated in the first half of 2020.

The dissidents within Jamaat at a press conference in a Dhaka hotel on April 27 announced a platform, Jana Akankhar Bangladesh, and it was now turning into a political party.

Jamaat on February 16 expelled its former leader and former president of its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir Mojibur Rahman Monju as he opposed the role of Jamaat during the war of independence and other issues.

Mojibur said preparation for launching a party likely to be named ‘Amra Bangladesh’ was going fast and it would not be a religion-based political party rather it would be based on the declaration of Bangladesh’s independence.

Two other names—Sadharan Janata Party or Bangladesh Naysangata Dal— were also under consideration for the new party. ‘We are considering several names and finally pick one of them later,’ Mojibur said.

He also said they already drafted the party’s declaration and constitution and they would be finalised soon.

The prime organiser of the party was Jamaat’s former senior assistant secretary general Abdur Razzaq who on February 15 sent his resignation letter from the UK to the party amir citing that Jamaat had failed to apologise for its role in 1971 and reform the organistion based on reality.

Mojibur said they already appointed district coordinators in 22 districts who were working to organise the people to join in the proposed party.  ‘We are getting huge response from people including leaders and activists of Jamaat,’ Mojibur added.

Mojibur also claimed now Jamaat-e-Islami decided to bring radical reforms within the party but so far they could advance a little in this regard

Mojibur, now visiting United Kingdom, in an interview with BBC Bangla on September 20 also spoke of their plan to float a new political party. He said the proposed party would not be a secular one and also not a religion-based one in its nature.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net