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Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir

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Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir
বাংলাদেশ ইসলামী ছাত্রশিবির
PresidentMonzurul Islam
Secretary GeneralJahidul Islam
Founded6 February 1977; 47 years ago (6 February 1977)
Preceded byEast Pakistan Islami Chhatra Sangha
HeadquartersPurana Paltan, Dhaka, Bangladesh
IdeologyIslamism
Pan-Islamism
Islamic democracy
National affiliationBangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
International affiliationIslami Jamiat-e-Talaba
Asian Federation of Muslim Youth
International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations
World Assembly of Muslim Youth
Students Islamic Organisation of India
Website

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ ইসলামী ছাত্রশিবির, lit. 'Bangladesh Islamic Student Camp'), popularly known as Chhatrashibir or Shibir, is an Islamist student organisation based in Bangladesh.[1] It was established on 6 February 1977.[2] The organisation functions as the de facto student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, with numerous former leaders advancing to hold prominent leadership roles within the party.

The organisation has a significant presence in higher educational institutions of the country such as University of Dhaka, University of Chittagong, University of Rajshahi, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Medical College, Dhaka College, Government Bangla College.[3][4]

History

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Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir was established on 6 February 1977 at the Dhaka University central mosque.[5] Their stated mission is "to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT) by moulding entire human life in accordance with the code, bestowed by Allah (SWT) and exemplified by His Messenger".[5][3]

The organisation was under pressure from the previous administration led by the Awami League and its student wing Chhatra League.[5][3] It, along with Jamaat-e-Islami, were fully banned by the Awami League regime on 1 August 2024.[6][7] However, the ban was withdrawn by the interim government on 28 August 2024.[8][9]

Funding

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Shibir members, who are students of many educational institutions are expected to donate monthly in the name of Baitul Maal (party fund).[10][11] There are also several publications that it sells in educational institutions.[11]

Controversies

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Bangladesh War of Independence

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Further information: Bangladesh genocide and Al-Badr (Pakistan)

In 1971, Shibir's predecessor, East Pakistan Islami Chhatra Sangha, some members of which led the formation of Al-Badr, which was involved in the 1971 killing of Bengali intellectuals; some members of Al-Badr had been convicted and executed by International Crimes Tribunal.[12][13][14][15][16]

Armed group designation

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In February 2014, US-based defence think tank IHS Jane's published a report titled "IHS Jane's 2013 Global Terrorism & Insurgency Attack Index", where Shibir ranked third in a list of most active non-state armed groups in 2013.[17]

The organisation protested the study findings, condemning the ranking. Describing Shibir as a non-armed organization, it questioned the source behind the study, and said: "They did not mention any single incident in the report that could prove our involvement with any armed attack."[18]

Crackdowns

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Since 2010, Shibir has been targeted by repeated crackdowns.[19] The former Awami League led government insisted that it is necessary to maintain public order and stop attacks on police, but Amnesty International sees them as political crackdowns.[20] Since 2010, raids on student residences have been carried out at random and any Shibir supporters found have been detained. In 2010, Government agencies received orders to conduct operations necessary to identify Shibir elements in educational institutions all around Bangladesh and uproot their influence.[21] Arbitrary arrests as police have made no efforts at the time of arrest to separate ordinary student members of the Chhatra Shibir from those suspected of involvement in the attacks and were denied Legal counsel.[20]

On 4 November 2018, police raided the Chittagong city headquarters of Chatra Shibir and later filed case against 90 Chittagong Shibir men over recovery of explosives.[22] It was the biggest police crackdowns against Shibir in recent times. Although the organisation denied any link to the incident and protested strongly against the case.[23]

Enforced disappearances

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See also: Enforced disappearances in Bangladesh

On 5 February 2012 approximately at 1:00 a.m., Al Mukaddas (22), fourth-year student of the Department of Al Fiqah and Mohammad Waliullah (23), a master's candidate of Dawah and Islamic Studies Department of Islamic University, were allegedly arrested and disappeared by some people who identified themselves as Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Detective Branch (DB) of Bangladesh Police from Savar, Dhaka.[24][25][26] Both were later found to be members of Shibir,[27] and were allegedly detained by members of the RAB and the DB of the police on 4 February. They have not been heard from since and their whereabouts are unknown. The RAB has denied detaining the two men in a statement to a Bangladeshi newspaper. However, reports from several sources and a pattern of disappearances thought to have been conducted by RAB in recent months cast doubt on RAB's denial.[28][29][30] Amnesty International along with other rights organizations expressed their concern over this issue and called for urgent action.[31]

On 5 April 2013 at around 2:25 a.m., RAB arrested Mohammad Anwarul Islam and Mosammat Nurjahan Begum of Angariapara village in Chapainawabganj from Rajpara Thana in Rajshahi District. Later, when family members contacted the RAB office, RAB notified that Anwarul had never been arrested by them. An allegation of enforced disappearance was brought against the members of RAB by Anwarul's family members. Upon inquiry, it was found that Anwarul was a last year master's student of Mathematics department of Rajshahi College. Moreover, he was the Office Secretary of the district Shibir of Rajshahi.[32]

On 21 October 2024, family members of six Shibir leaders filed complaints against RAB and DB in the International Crimes Tribunal over allegations of enforced disappearances. The Shibir leaders mentioned in the complaint are Shah Md. Waliullah, Md. Mokaddes Ali, Hafez Zakir Hossain, Zainal Abedin, Rezwan Hossain, and Md. Kamruzzaman. Shibir’s Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs, Amanullah Al Jihadi, stated that on 6 August, family members went to the RAB headquarters seeking information on the missing leaders but have yet to receive any information.[33][34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About | Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir". Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. ^ "The Glorious History". Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b c BIC. বাংলাদেশ ইসলামী ছাত্রশিবিরের গৌরবোজ্জল ইতিহাস' (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  4. ^ BICS. "The Glorious History'". Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Constitution-Chapter One". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Bangladesh bans Jamaat-e-Islami party following violent protests that left more than 200 dead". The Washington Post. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024.
  7. ^ Report, Star Digital (1 August 2024). "Government bans Jamaat, Shibir". The Daily Star.
  8. ^ "Govt issues gazette lifting ban on Jamaat". The Daily Star. 28 August 2024. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Govt issues gazette withdrawing ban on Jamaat-Shibir". The Business Standard. 28 August 2024. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024.
  10. ^ Mahmud, Tarek (13 September 2011). "Shibir collects tolls from the hostel residents in 2 Ctg colleges". New Age. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  11. ^ a b Ali, Anwar (3 March 2010). "Shibir rented out RU hall seats". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  12. ^ Habib, Haroon (17 July 2013). "Jamaat secretary-general gets death penalty for war crimes". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Kamaruzzaman led Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams: witness". New Age. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  14. ^ Adhikary, Tuhin Shubhra (10 May 2013). "Key man of Al-Badr". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  15. ^ "Mirpur butcher Molla must die, says SC". bdnews24.com. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  16. ^ "Mojaheed indicted for genocide, crimes against humanity". New Age. Dhaka. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  17. ^ Zaman, Sheikh Shahariar (25 February 2014). "Shibir a top non-state armed group: IHS Jane's". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  18. ^ "Shibir protests IHS ranking". Dhaka Tribune. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  19. ^ Islam, Md Saidul (March 2011). "'Minority Islam' in Muslim Majority Bangladesh". Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs. 31 (1): 133–134. doi:10.1080/13602004.2011.556893. ISSN 1360-2004. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Bangladesh: politically motivated arbitrary arrests hamper impartial investigation of campus violence" (PDF). Amnesty International. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  21. ^ "Bangladesh Cracks Down on Islami Chhatra Shibir". VOA (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Case filed against 90 Chittagong Shibir men over explosives recovery". Dhaka Tribune. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  23. ^ Latest Update of Police Attack at Shibir Office in Chittagong বিস্ফোরণ এর ব‍্যাপারে শিবিরের বক্তব্য, 3 November 2018, archived from the original on 5 March 2020, retrieved 22 March 2019
  24. ^ "Two persons were disappeared after being arrested at Savar allegedly by RAB and DB Police". Odhikar. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  25. ^ "Bangladesh: Enforced disappearance of Messrs. Al Mukaddas and Mohammad Waliullah". 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 October 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Two 'missing' IU students still untraced". The Daily Star. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  27. ^ "Students still missing after one and a half years since arrest". Progress Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  28. ^ "PM's intervention sought to find out two missing IU students". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  29. ^ "PM's intervention sought as two IU students remain missing for 5 years". The New Nation. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  30. ^ "2 missing after being 'picked up' by Rab". The Daily Star. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Urgent Action Authorities Told to Respond Aout Detainees" (PDF). Amnesty International. 20 February 2012.
  32. ^ "Arrest and enforced disappearance of Mohammad Anwarul Islam by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members". Odhikar. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  33. ^ ছাত্রশিবিরের ৬ কর্মী 'গুম', ট্রাইব্যুনালে র‍্যাব-ডিবির বিরুদ্ধে অভিযোগ. BDNews24 (in Bengali). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  34. ^ শিবিরের ৬ কর্মী গুম: ট্রাইব্যুনালে র‌্যাব-ডিবির বিরুদ্ধে অভিযোগ. Jago News 24 (in Bengali). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
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