We may have longed for years for an independent and free judiciary, an autonommous election commission and a proactive and free anti-corruption commission. Althought current ‘short cut to success’ government is promising all of the above, a parctically independenht judiciary, election commission and anti corruption commission is still a a far cry.
Why do I say that?
Recent moves by EC to patronize breakaway splinte groups of major parties ( cordial long meeting with Mannan Bhuiyan’s delegation and refusal to meet BNP mainstream delegation) has forced people to start thinking twice about EC activities. Similarly recent remarks by Anti corruption commission chairman about the impossibility of his asking for wealth report of government advisors or ACC activities to selectively spare pro government politicians from anti-corruption investigation have already tainted the ACC as a partisan body, serving the rulers. And it was in the news just today on how this CTG has superseeded one judge to promote Justice Matin ( possibly their man of choice) as a judge in Supreme court appeallate division.
Then what government office we are left with? This is the office of the khatib of baitul Mukarram national Mosque. The Khatib, Moulana Obaidul haq is a very powerful character and he enjoys quite an powerful and independent status despite the fact that he is a government employee. In 2001, AL government, after watching his 5 years of activities, sent Khatib Obaidul into retirement. But Khatib promptly returned after winning a legal battle with the government that dragged upto Supreme Court. Even during the last 4 party alliance government, this Khatib has worked totaly at his own will and ferociously independently. Going totally against the governments foreign policy, as early as in 2003, this Khatib Obaidul Haq openly urged the protesters in an antiwar rally to start a war against US. Then he led a protest rally to condemn a reported derogatory remarks on Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM) that was made by visiting German scholar Prof Hans G Kippenberg at a seminar organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). This Khatib denounced the government’s “meddling” when govt wanted to review and reform the madrassa curriculum on the face of International pressure after 9/11.
After nationwide bomblast on August 2005, in an interview, this Khatib stubbornly refused to agree that the bombing could be done by Islamic zealots. He also reiterated his demand for establishiong Islamic rule (Sharia) in Bnagladesh.
ET: Every Islamic leader wants to establish the rule of Islam. Why is there a need for establishing such a rule?
MOH: We are Muslims living in a country where the Muslims are the majority. Why wouldn’t there be a need to establish the rule of Islam? Definitely there is such a need
However very soon this same Khatib changed his stand about the bombing and led a national rally of ‘half Million Mosque’ to protest terrorist bombing in Bangladesh.
And finally as the country president of International Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwat Bangladesh (IMTKNB), an international outfit of anti-Ahmadiyya diehards, this Khatib Obaidul Haq has been a leading figure of Anti ahamadiya movement in Bangladesh.
And this same Khatib is now leading the campaign against daily Prothom Alo, utilizing the cartoon issue.
So much for freedom of the religion (of the majority) in Bangladesh! And so much for independent institutions in Bangladesh!
Marhaba our Dear khatib!
September 19, 2007 at 12:54 am
Thank you Rumi bhai!
September 19, 2007 at 6:18 am
ever heard one of his khutbas directly? where did he go to school? who was his father? what do the chaps at the islamic foundation make of him?
September 19, 2007 at 8:46 am
Fugstar, why don’t you do that research for us and finding out from you colleagues.
September 19, 2007 at 8:59 am
We also should find out if he owns a cat 🙂
September 19, 2007 at 9:11 am
Oh…didn’t you hear? The Khatibs and his Jamati chums prefer putting Muhammad’s (sw) in front of vegetables (in lieu of a cat)…such as ‘kodu’ (gourd).
http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/sujonmcblog/28732243
September 19, 2007 at 11:34 am
Yes I listened to his Khutba. However, what attracted me more was his formal and kingly style. When he ascends to the mimbor, i.e. enters the prayer hall, one little mulla walks in front holding high a symbolic stick. Then behind are few other small Mullah’s carry stuff like books, clay pots, Huzur’s pagri and other stuff. It is a miniature royal procession reminding me of the fairy tale marriage of Charles-Diana. When he delivers Khutba, several taleb elems used to stand behind him like statues.
September 19, 2007 at 4:23 pm
i am not in desh, and more fundamental research on my plate.
i was generally heartened by the khutbas i heard in time around bangladesh, but i have a very different set of eyeballs and eardrums. Where i see cute little men getting frisky, you folks see serpants. i see a molehill, you make a mountain.
I am sad to see our moulanas persistantly denigrated and demonised by people who think they know everything. They say if you want to kill a dog, first give it a bad name. Thanks for obliging whenever the bait is set and not making the link as to why the creature is limping.
I do think this entire blogisode warrants a cartoon in itself. something in black and white.
September 19, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Dude, lay off that holier than thou attitude. You have flooded every single deshi blog that I can see and yet you claim you are somehow above it. So you ask Rumi to find out what’s the father’s name of Khatib and you claim you have more important research to do. Ummm…so Rumi somewho does not have anything better to do? Take that attitude to Saudi Arab when you migrate there where you are going to be treated no better than a miskin and yes, don’t forget to blog and let us know all about your adventures in the desert land. You are getting spoilt by free NHS and subsidized education and housing in the UK. You need a taste of the real world where you Khatib friends rule the world. You can listen to their khutba all day long. Ahlan Wasalan…hurry hurry..
September 19, 2007 at 7:43 pm
dude, no offence, but do you realise what ahlan wasahlan means?
Rumi has buckets of info on this issue, i was hoping for overflow. Apologies if you find me holier than you.
September 19, 2007 at 7:51 pm
As usual Fugstar, you have it backward. The mole was the cartoon; the mountain was the nutjobs (“cute little men getting frisky” according to you) asking for his and the editors’ arrest and demonstrating because of Muhammad Biral; and the bigger mountain was the government arresting the cartoonist, Mainul finding a “conspiracy”, Prothom Alo freaking out and groveling.
Perhaps these mullahs would not be “denigrated and demonised” if they didnt do things that made them oh so deserving. They make themselves a laughing stock by their actions.
September 20, 2007 at 1:47 pm
[…] is begging apology, knees bent, to the boss of the bigots and the head Islamist of Bangladesh, Khatib Obaidul Haque. Supervising the apology ceremony is none other than the information advisor (Minister) of […]
September 20, 2007 at 5:34 pm
[…] is begging apology, knees bent, to the boss of the bigots and the head Islamist of Bangladesh, Khatib Obaidul Haque. Supervising the apology ceremony is none other than the information advisor (Minister) of […]
September 20, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Thank you Mash! When the DU students protested (prior to the property destruction and vandalism), people such as Fugstar said that they were making a mountain out of a molehill.
Now when Islamists are protesting, the offence of the cartoon itself is nowhere on Fugstar’s radar, the protest itself is the molehill, the khatib of Baitul Mukarram becomes a peripheral figure and the reporters are making a mountain of all of this.
What short-term memory or double standards! Fugstar, I hope this makes you realise why some people have started taking you a lot less seriously than before, including myself.
September 21, 2007 at 2:06 pm
This regim left no stone unturnd to make our country to a banana country.
After the Liberation Army killed the father of the nation.
Army invite the RAJAKARs in politics in the name of democracy.
Army ruled 10 years & killd a lot of the sun of soil to subpress democracy.
Now army Backd CTG is working hard to be 100% loyal to pakistani intelligent ISI.
we are so unfortunate people, our army is saving bullets for our people. But how many bullets they saved ??
we are the inheritants of 30 lakhs death. we are the effect of 30 lakh death.
Its a army backed ISI advised Govt , who decleared the JAMAT as innocent & custody The daughter of The father of the nation Sheikh hasina.
huh ! Sheikh hasina didnt leave her peoples in crucial time why people will forget sheikh hasina.
we have to stop this regim. And the first & principal step is to get sheikh hasina free.
Guys think hoiw we can do it …
September 22, 2007 at 6:01 pm
na, i think you are just being simple.
September 22, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Irony, thy name is Fugstar.