Staff Reporter :
The Awami Olama League, the religious wing of ruling party Awami League, has expressed sharp reaction against the anti-Islamic education policy of the government and for favouring the non-Muslims in the administration.
At the same time, it also raised voice against airing of Indian TV channels in Bangladesh, CHT Commission, recent remarks of ‘atheists’ about Islam, Pahela Baishakh programmes, LGRD ministry’s initiatives about next Eid-ul-Azha celebration, inter-river linking project and girls’ marriage age limitation.
It also demanded to observe the National Mourning Day in religious mood with banning broadcasting of cultural programmes in the month of August.
The above demands raised questions among the concerned circle after the leaders of organization placed a 17-point charter of demand in press release referring its rallies on August 7, signed by Abdul Hasan Sheikh Shariatpuri who claimed to be Olama League General Secretary.
One of the demands was that the government scraped the minimum marriage age of 18 for girls. It said the Sharia law doesn’t mention any age limit for girls to get married.
Terming the education policy “anti-Islamic”, it said the policy was formulated in 2010 to “turn Bangladesh into an atheist country”. Labeling Pahela Baishakh programmes as “Haram”, the organization also called for introducing a provision of death penalty for undermining Islam.
Meanwhile, after placing the demands, the organisation has been facing countrywide criticism as their stance went against the ruling party’s policy of democracy and secularism.
There is widespread allegation that the leaders of AL directly patronize the organization under the guise of secular politics. The organisation also uses a floor of the AL central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital. Many AL leaders maintain close relations with it on the directives of party high command.
Whereas, according to the charter, the AL is committed to ensure religious freedom and fundamental human rights irrespective of religion, caste, sex, community, oppression against women and ethnic identity, and to eliminate the communalism.
Several AL leaders, however, said that the AL has no organisational ties with the Olama League; it may be called a like-minded organization.
