Abstract
In the 1971 liberation war, Jamaat collaborated with the Pakistani rulers for a united Pakistan. They became a symbol of razakars, collaborators, today a ruinous designation that has slowed their potential political progress considerably. The current Awami League government has successfully capitalized on the issue of liberation war as a trump card in Bangladesh politics and used it to undermine the opposition. Several top leaders of Jamaat have been executed for war crimes and the party is banned from participating in elections. In this context, Jamaat pursues several strategies in order to survive under the authoritarian AL regime. But in our interviews we only found an old-style focus on organizational reforms, electoral participation and dawah (outreach)—rather than anything innovative. The chapter suggests that the political future of Jamaat is not bleak but not very promising either. It will depend on the political opportunities created by and with the major political parties and on any collaboration with other religious groups.
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Notes
- 1.
Originally, the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 was introduced immediately after the liberation war with a specific aim “to provide for the detention, prosecution and punishment of persons for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes under the international law” (Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division 2019). In 2009, the AL government established the tribunal again.
- 2.
Jamaat filed an appeal against the verdict of the high court which is now pending for hearing.
- 3.
The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) is the military intelligence agency.
- 4.
Baitul maal is a financial contribution from all supporters and well-wishers, one of the main sources of funding for the party.
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Hossain, A., Haque, M. (2022). Survival Strategies of Jamaat as a Religion-Based Political Opponent in Bangladesh. In: Ruud, A.E., Hasan, M. (eds) Masks of Authoritarianism. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4314-9_7
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