In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
PRESS RELEASE : DHAKA, 23/09/2000
Press Conference of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon
CHEIF OF KHELAFAT CALLS FOR NATIONAL REPENTANCE AND RETURN TO THE PATH OF ALLAH
A pre-scheduled Press Conference of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon (BKA) was held today in Dhaka at a restaurant near Bangladesh National Press Club. It was attended by Khelafat leaders and 42 journalists from local and foreign press and broadcasters.
Quari Shah Ahmadullah Ashraf, tThe Chief of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, recited from the Holy Quran to inaugurate the Press Conference.
A written statement of Ameer-e-Shariah Quari Shah Ahmadullah Ashraf was read out by Secretary-General Maulana Muhammad Zafrullah Khan.
Ameer-e-Shariah said that the absence of Islamic Rule and Khelafat system of Government is the root cause of all sufferings of the nation. He said that usury, bribery, corruption, lawlessness are flourishing from the top to the bottom of the Government. The Prime Minister herself admitted, “Even if I myself issue a written order, you can not get your work done unless you pay bribe”.
Khelafat Chief commented that the whole nation of Bangladesh today is hostage in the hands of governmental and non-governmental terrorists. He asserted that there is no rule of law in the country since Prime Minister herself is violating the constitution and law and instigating her party activists to bring out “Lathi-Procession” (i.e. precisionists armed with sticks) to threaten the judges.
He described in details how the ruling government is promoting and patronizing campaign against Islamic values, Islamic institutions, Islamic clergies and Islamic Madrasa students. He remarked that the ruling government of Bangladesh has been acting as instrument of foreign enemies of Islam and promoting fornication by putting male and female in same work places. He said, while it is the responsibility of the authorities to help improving love and cooperation between husband and wife, the authorities and the NGOs are instigating wives against their husbands to destroy Muslim family system and replace if by sinful corrupt live-together culture.
Following the call of his late noble father Hazrat Hafezzi Huzur (R.A.), the Khelafat Chief Shah Ahmadullah Ashraf reiterated the call for national repentance and return to the Path of Allah to be successful in this world and in the Hereafter.
He termed the Muslims as “Religious Brothers” and non-Muslims as kin since the origin of mankind is a single family of Hazrat Adam and Hazrat Hawa @Eve (Blessings of Allah be upon them). He also said that the door of Khelafat Andolon is open to all irrespective of Muslims or non-Muslims whoever wants to live in peace and in security of life-honor-property under Islamic Khelafat system. He asserted that Islam is a rational, spiritual and materially balanced code of life which promotes love, cooperation, human rights, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence.
He claimed that the righteous Islamic Clergy and Madrasa students are highly helpful force for bringing peace to the society. The righteous Islamic Clergies never nurtures the criminals, rather they correct the criminals.
He said, he feels proud when someone calls him ‘Fundamentalist’, because it is a recognition that he is sticking to the fundamentals of Islam. He questioned, what type of freedom and democracy it is where the pro-Americans, pro-Indians, pro-Russians, pro-Chinese enjoy the freedom to remain active in politics, but the Islamic Fundamentalists and pro-Taleban are called to withdraw from politics? He termed the Talebans as patriot and lovers of Islam & independence and true representative of the oppressed poor “Mustadafins”. He asserted that so long freedom of expression exists, the Islamic clergies do not consider it appropriate to resort to armed Jihad.
He strongly expressed his support to Osama Bin Laden and called him a pious Muslim and great Islamic hero of this age. He turned down American allegation that Osama is a terrorist.
Khelafat Chief called all concerned for national reconciliation and unity and desist from harmful acts of dividing the nation calling someone “pro-liberation” and others “anti-liberation” after 30 years of independence of the country. He stressed the need for expanding defence system of the nation and proposed a new defence policy with following salient feature:
(a) Creation of Reserve Force;
(b) Creation of People’s Army with students and young people of the nation;
(c) Expansion of Islamic Madrasa education and recruitment of madrasa graduates for the military;
(d) Research and Production of military weapons & ammunitions in quantities to be able to earn foreign exchange by exporting surplus.
He said that female leadership, Hartal, making and burning effigy, using starvation as instrument of protest, making statues, etc., are not permitted in Islam. He called the Prime Minister and the Government to demolish all statues including those of Late Bongobandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He advised that prayers and alms-giving should be practiced for the good of the departed souls. He also suggested that Masjid could be built in the name of Bongobandhu to commemorate him.
Khelafat Chief elaborated following 3 types of homeless inhabitants of Bangladesh and called for their proper rehabilitation with full dignity and rights:-
(a) Those who have become homeless and landless due to river erosion or poverty
(b) Urdu-speaking Muslim inhabitants of Bangladesh who have been deprived of their rights and properties since 1971-72 - who are the true victims of religious communalism in India and linguistic communalism in Bangladesh.
(c) Muslim Rohingya Refugees from Arakan.
He called for open support to the liberation of Arakan and asked the government to release all 41 supporters Arakan liberation struggle who have been sentenced to life imprisonment on false charges.
He asked the government to stop misusing and ill-spending of state fund for corrupt cultures, professional sports, statue making and such other sinful activities. He advised the government to divert the state fund to social welfare and defence spending. He remarked that all rulers of Bangladesh past and present have been acting as the instruments in the hands of foreign enemies of Islam and Bangladesh. He pointed out that the conspiracies of those foreign enemies of Islam-Bangladesh-humanity may be precisely described as follows:-
(a) To destroy the Islamic enthusiasm and power of the Muslim masses;
(b) To ridicule Islamic values & culture, and shrink Islamic education;
(c) To acquire control over the Chittagong region of Bangladesh for geo-political and economic agenda;
(d) To acquire control over the mineral resources of Bangladesh.
Ameer-e-Shariah Shah Ahmadullah Ashraf called for re-organization of Agricultural and Industrial sectors of the country. He maintained, unless the purchasing power of the 80% population dependent on farming is increased considerably, industrialization will fail. Industrialization can not be successful depending solely on foreign market. If the purchasing power of the farmers grow, domestic demand for industrial products will go up and then industrialization will be naturally fruitful.
He called for end to the rising trend of inhuman capitalism in the health and education sectors. He rebuked the government for failing to maintain electric supply and control the costs of utilities i.e. electricity and gas.
He explained that the foreigners have planted NGOs as their instruments to interfere into the affairs of the Asian, African and Latin American nations for cooking situation for exploiting those countries economically and politically. They came here in the guise of social workers and got licence as social welfare association. They got registration under strict condition that the organizers shall not use these organizations for direct or indirect financial or political benefits. Now they are gradually stepping into politics under dictates of their foreign masters. He warned that if the government fails to control them, people themselves will be obliged to wage Jihad to save their country and religion.
The Khelafat Chief called Bangladesh Government, other Muslim governments and the international community to recognize the Taleban Government and support the independence of Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, Moro-Mindanao and Arakan.
While concluding he remarked Divine Teachings that Mercy of Allah surpasses His Wrath. Therefore he called all to repent and beg Allah’s Mercy and re-start new life in the Way of Allah.
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[Q= Question. A=Answer. SAA=Shah Ahmadullah Ashraf]
Q(Reuters): You said, you support Osama Bin Laden. Now, if he calls you to cooperate with his program, what will you do?
A(SAA): We agree with his principles and outlook. But we have no scope to cooperate with him other than to pray to Allah for him.
Q(Reuters): Do you have contact with him – direct or indirect?
A(SAA): No. We do not have contact with anyone who has contact with him.
Q(a journalist): Do you want the fall of the ruling government of Bangladesh?
A(SAA): We want the fall of the existing system, not only the ruling government.
Q(a journalist): If you want to establish any new system then you need to become ruler of the country. What are you doing to acquire governmental power?
A(SAA): We are struggling politically. We are calling people to support us.
Q(a journalist): Will you make any new Islamic coalition or join any existing coalition for next election?
A(SAA): Those who are active in politics in the name of Islam are not the only Islamic parties. Whoever believes in Allah and His Prophets and Islamic. Therefore, we prefer to call the people to come forward to establish Vicegerency of Allah in this world. We call for poeple’s cooperation.
Q(a journalist): You said you are calling all those who believe in Allahh and His Prophets. Jamat-i-Islami also believes in Allah and His Prophets. They why don’t you want to accept their cooperation?
A(SAA): If Jamaat frees itself from conspiracies and comes forward in the righteous straight way we can accept their cooperation.
Q(a journalist): Pir Saheb of Chormonai says that Jamat is not an Islamic party. What is your comment?
A(SAA): I am not aware of the motives of Chormonai Pir Saheb. Jamat claims to believe in democracy. We see parties and governments interpreting democracy in confusing and self-contradictory ways. We think, the so-called democracy is cheating business. We want change in the system.
