On 27th July 2011, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Wilayah Bangladesh announced that it will be holding a Public Meeting and March on 13th August, 2011 in Dhaka city for accounting Sheikh Hasina and her government as well as calling for establishing the Khilafah State. This announcement just before the start of Ramadan was characterized as the most unthinkable political activity organized in Bangladesh over the last few decades. This was because the declaration was seen by the political medium and the media as a direct and bold challenge against the government of Hasina which banned the Hizb because of its immense growth, influence and effect on the society over the last decade.
The declaration of the 13th August Public Meeting and March received huge attention from various quarters with political interest.
Firstly, the Ummah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is utterly disgusted with the Hasina government’s actions. In fact they are the primary victims of the criminal actions of this government. The Ummah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم in Bangladesh has had no faith whatsoever upon the colonialist controlled political system and the political parties in the country. They are aware that both the government and opposition parties are in constant competition to please their kafir imperialist masters, USA-Britain-India. Faced with such a quagmire, the decisive direction from Hizb ut-Tahrir simply had the healing effect on the heart and mind of the Ummah. They were pleased to see that Hizb ut-Tahrir is acting true to its trust and responsibilities towards Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the Ummah, and acting as the guardian of the Ummah prepared to face the wrath of this government, to face the brutality and oppression of this government; and yet to say enough is enough and account the traitor government which is the afdalul jihad.
The civil-political influentials and the people of power expressed mixed reactions. However most of these reactions were regarding the bravery and assertive nature of the Hizb ut-Tahrir. Some of them even could not believe how this type of event could even be imagined given the tough nature and brutality of this government; and the reality that Hizb ut-Tahrir has been proscribed by this government. Discussion took place regarding why Hizb ut-Tahrir has announced such an event? What is the goal of such political event? What motivates Hizb ut-Tahrir to sacrifice in such way?
Meanwhile the news media were covering the declaration of the event with headlines such as “banned Hizb ut-Tahrir to go open,” “banned Hizb ut-Tahrir throwing a challenge to the government” etc. While the spokesmen of government security apparatus including officials of the notorious US-British trained Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Detective Branch (DB) of Police claimed that, “Hizb ut-Tahrir is in no position to hold the rally and procession as announced in the posters.” Moreover they continued their same old failed policy of arrests and harassments of the members and activists of the party to foil the announced event and create an atmosphere of fear.
On the other hand the Hizb continued its publicity work in this blessed month of Ramadan and geared up for the 13th August event by distributing fliers, pasting posters and stickers, holding public meetings and rallies in various strategic locations, markets and mosques where thousands of people showed their support for Hizb ut-Tahrir. This overwhelming support and enthusiasm continued to frustrate the government and strengthen the morale of the party until the climax of the face-off between the guardians of the Ummah- Hizb ut-Tahrir and the servants of the kafir-mushriks- the Hasina government, reached the pinnacle.
On 13th August, 2011, the government sealed off the entire venue of the event, Muktangon and the surrounding areas within 2km radius – Polton, Press club, Kakrail, Motijheel, Naya Palton, GPO – with battalions of police personnel in riot gear, water cannon, prison van etc, hundreds of RAB personnel carrying guns while hundreds of plain clothed intelligence officers roamed around the entire region. The government was determined not to allow the party to hold any meeting and rallies and continued to warn the Muslims of Bangladesh not to join.
However it all came to them as a big surprise as the Muslims of Bangladesh under the leadership of Hizb ut-Tahrir members started to march towards the venue with processions and slogans and takbeer, ‘Allahu Akbar’, ‘Allahu Akbar’. The Ummah ignored government threats. They proceeded in large groups, from various routes, without fear and reached the Polton intersection adjacent to Muktangon. They raised high the flag of Shahadah and at the top of their voice they conveyed a simple message to Sheikh Hasina- the Muslims of this country are resolute in their struggle to remove her government and establish the ruling system of the Qur’an, the Khilafah state. They made it clear that the Hasina government’s criminal policies of consolidating US-Indian domination over the Muslim Army of Bangladesh and surrendering the country’s sovereignty, land and resources to the imperialists will not go without strong and determined resistance from the people.
The Muslims were prepared to face any and all brutalities of the government forces, whether baton charges, water canons and arrests. And they did that. The government unleashed all its forces, in plain clothes and in green and black but the Muslims bravely stood their ground, following the footsteps of their forefathers, Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, Umar ibn Khattab, and Hussein ibn Ali (ra). The government made 16 arrests but they have achieved nothing from this. It seems that they don’t take lessons from the Muslims of al-Quds al-Shareef, Bilad al-Sham and al-Maghreb? In month of Ramadan they forgot that the Jews, Fira’uns and despots in these countries achieved nothing by arresting, torturing and killing the sons, the daughters, the old and the young of the Noble Ummah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Muslims of Bangladesh share the same blood and their resolve has been strengthened this day, the 13th of August, 2011. This bold and decisive message from the Ummah led by Hizb ut-Tahrir created a new political reality where it can only end by the re-establishment of Khilafah state and Hasina-Khaleda’s political future thrown in the dustbin of history. Insha’Allah.
Jafar Muhammad Abu Abdullah
20-08-2011