Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Founder Abbas Ali Khan (Joypurhat)
Headquarters Mogbazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Ideology Political Islam
Seats in the Jatyo Sangshad
0 / 300
Website
jamaat-e-islami.org
Politics of Bangladesh
Political parties
Elections

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ জামায়াতে ইসলামী), previously known as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, and Jamaat for short,[1] is the largest[2] Islamist political party in Bangladesh.[3][4] On 1 August 2013 the Bangladesh Supreme Court declared the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami illegal, ruling that the party is unfit to contest national polls,[5][6][7][8][9] following widespread acts of violence against religious minorities and others, and calls by Jamaat-e-Islami supporters for reunification with Pakistan, and expulsion of the approximately 20 million non-Muslim Bangladeshis.[10]

The predecessor of the party (Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan) strongly opposed the independence of Bangladesh and break-up of Pakistan. In 1971, it collaborated with the Pakistani Army in its operations against Bengali nationalists and pro-liberation intellectuals. Many of its leaders and activists participated in paramilitary forces[11] that were implicated in war crimes, such as mass murder, especially of Hindus, rape and forced conversions of Hindus to Islam.[12][13][14][15] Jamaat-e-Islami members led the formation of the Shanti Committee, and the Razakar and Al-Badr paramilitary forces.[11][16][17]

Upon the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the new government banned Jamaat-e-Islami from political participation and its leaders went into exile in Pakistan. Following the assassination of the first president and the military coup that brought Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman to power in Bangladesh in 1975, the ban on the Jamaat was lifted and the new party Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh was formed. Its leaders were allowed to return. Abbas Ali Khan was the first Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. The Jamaat agenda is the creation of an "Islamic state" with the Shariat legal system, and outlawing "un-Islamic" practices and laws.

In the 1980s, the Jamaat joined the multi-party alliance for the restoration of democracy. It later allied with Ziaur Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat leaders became ministers in the two BNP-led regimes of prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia (from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006). Its popularity has decreased and in 2008, it won only two of 300 elected seats in Parliament. In 2010 the government, led by the Awami League, began prosecution of war crimes committed during the 1971 war under the International Crimes Tribunal. By 2012, two leaders of the BNP and eight of Jamaat had been charged with war crimes, and by March 2013, three Jamaat leaders had been convicted of crimes. In response, the Jamaat has held major strikes and violent protests across the country, which have led to more than 60 deaths (mostly by security forces)[18] and a mass destruction of public and national properties.

History of the party

The Jamaat in parliamentary elections
Year Results
1973 Party banned because of opposition
to Bangladeshi independence
and collaboration with the Pakistani army.
1979 Party legalized under the name
"Islamic Democratic League"
Together with larger Muslim League won 20 seats
1986 10 seats.[19]
1991 18 seats.[19]
1996 3 seats.[19]
2001 17 seats. (took part by forming alliance with 3 other parties.)[19]
2008 2 seats.[20](took part by forming alliance with 3 other parties.)

British India (1941–1947)

The Jamaat-e-Islami was founded in pre-partition British India by Syed Ab'ul Ala Maududi at Islamia Park, Lahore on 26 August 1941 as a movement to promote Social and Political Islam. Jamaat opposed the creation of a separate state of Pakistan for the Muslims of India. It also did not support the Muslim League, then the largest Muslim party, in the election of 1946.

Pakistan Period (1948–1971)

After the creation of Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami divided into separate Indian and Pakistani national organisations. The East Pakistan wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan later became Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Jammat-e-Islami participated in the democratic movement in Pakistan during the Martial Law Period declared by General Ayub Khan. An all-party democratic alliance (DAC) was formed in 1965. Jamaat head in East Pakistan, Ghulam Azam was a member of the alliance, which also included Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[21][22]

During the 1950s and especially the 1960s, tension developed and escalated between East and West Pakistan, which had many differences in language and culture although both were majority Muslim. East Pakistan had a majority of Pakistan's population and economic activity but Pakistan's government and military were largely dominated by the upper classes from the west. Friction first developed over use of Bengali language[23] then political autonomy for the East, and the perceived poor response of the government to a massive cyclone killing up to half a million people in East Pakistan.[24]

In 1970 the pro-autonomy Awami League won a majority in Pakistan's Parliament but[25] was blocked by West Pakistanis from taking office. After compromise talks broke down, the Pakistan military launched Operation Searchlight[26] to crush East Pakistan opposition,[27] beginning the Bangladesh Liberation War. The Pakistan military's chief targets included intellectuals and Hindus, and about one million refugees fled to neighbouring India.[28]

As an Islamist party JI was uninterested in ethnic issues or local languages but strongly supported Islamic unity, and so supported the Pakistani military in their campaign. East Pakistan JI head Ghulam Azam coordinated the development and operation of paramilitary forces during the war, including Razakar, Al-shams, Al-badr for collaboration with the Pakistan Army. These units committed genocide and other war crimes at the time, most notorious of which were the systematic execution of Bengali pro-liberation intellectuals on 14 December 1971. As the war neared its end, a final effort to wipe off as many intellectuals as possible took place, to eliminate the future leaders of the new nation. On 14 December 1971, over 200 of East Pakistan's intellectuals including professors, journalists, doctors, artists, engineers, and writers were picked up from their homes in Dhaka by the Al-Badr militias . Notable novelist Shahidullah Kaiser and playwright Munier Choudhury were among the victims. They were taken blindfolded to torture cells in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other locations in different sections of the city. Later they were executed en masse, most notably at Rayerbazar and Mirpur. Jamaat strongly opposed an independent Bangladesh, which it considers to be founded against the principles of Islam.

Estimates of those East Pakistanis massacred throughout the war range from thirty thousand to three million.[29]

During the Bangladesh Liberation War, a by-election was ordered by the military administration of West Pakistan; it appointed Rao Farman Ali in charge. Ali wanted to reward the rightist political parties who helped the army and awarded 44 seats to Jamaat.[30]

Bangladesh Period (1978–present)

Jamaat was banned after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, and its top leaders fled to West Pakistan. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, first president of Bangladesh also cancelled the citizenship of Golam Azam, the leader of Jamaat. Azam then moved to UK and Pakistan, and other leaders moved to the Middle East.[31]

Golam first fled to Pakistan and organized a "East Pakistan Recovery Week". As information about his participation in the killing of civilians came to light "a strong groundswell of resentment against" East Pakistan JI leadership developed and Golam and Maulan Abdur Rahim were sent to Saudi Arabia. In Saudi, Azam and some of his followers successfully appealed for donations to "defend Islam" in Bangladesh, asserting that the Hindu minority there were "killing Muslims and burning their homes."[32]

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in 1975, enabling army chief Major general Ziaur Rahman to seize power. With Rahman's coup, Jamaat again resumed political activities in Bangladesh. Rahman also allowed Azam to return to Bangladesh as the leader of Jamaat.[31] After the end of military rule in 1990, mass protests began against Azam and Jamaat under war criminal charges headed by Jahanara Imam, an author who lost her two sons and husband in the liberation war. Azam's citizenship was challenged in a case that went to the Bangladesh Supreme Court, as he held only a Pakistani passport. Absent prosecution of Azam for war crimes, the Supreme Court ruled that he had to be allowed a Bangladeshi passport and the freedom to resume his political activities. Bangladesh police arrested Jamaat-e-Islami chief and former Industry Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami from his residence in the capital in a graft case on 19 May 2008. Earlier, two former Cabinet Ministers of the immediate past BNP-led alliance government, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Shamsul Islam were sent to Dhaka Central Jail after they surrendered before the court. The Jamaat-e-Islami party has become less popular. In the parliamentary elections of December 2008, the Jamaat-e-Islami party garnered fewer than 5 seats out of the total 300 that constitute the national parliament. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is concerned, as the Jamaat-e-Islami has been their primary political partner in the Four-Party Alliance.[33]

Controversy

Involvement in war crimes

Many of Jamaat's leaders are accused of committing war crimes during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 and several have already been convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal.[34]

International Crimes Tribunal

By November 2011, the International Crimes Tribunal had charged two BNP leaders and ten Jamaat leaders with war crimes committed during the Bangladesh liberation war.

Abul Kalam Azad, a nationally known Islamic cleric and former member of Jamaat, was charged with genocide, rape, abduction, confinement and torture. He was tried in absentia after having fled the country; police believe he is in Pakistan.[35] In January 2013 Azad was the first suspect to be convicted in the trials; he was found guilty of seven of eight charges and sentenced to death by hanging.[36] Azad's defence lawyer, a prominent Supreme Court lawyer appointed by the state, did not have any witnesses in the case; he said Azad's family failed to cooperate in helping locate witnesses and refused to testify.[37]

The summary of verdict in the conviction of Abdul Quader Molla recognized the role played by Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing ('Islami Chatra Sangha') as collaborators with the Pakistan Army in 1971. The party was found guilty of forming paramilitary forces, such as Razakar and Al-Badr. It was said to have taken part in the systematic genocide of the Bangladeshi people and other violent activities.[38]

As a result of the trials, the activists of the 2013 Shahbag Protest have demanded that the government ban Jamaat from Bangladeshi politics.[39][40] In response, the government started drafting a bill to ban Jamaat-e-Islami from Bangladeshi politics.[41]

On 28 February 2013, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, the deputy of Jamaat, was found guilty of genocide, rape and religious persecution. He was sentenced to death by hanging.[42] His defence lawyer had earlier complained that a witness who was supposed to testify for him was abducted from the gates of the courthouse on 5 November 2012, reportedly by police, and has not been heard from since. The government did not seem to take the issue seriously after the prosecution denied there was a problem.[43]

Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, senior assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami was indicted on 7 June 2012 on 7 counts of crimes against humanity.[44] On 9 May 2013 he was convicted and given the death penalty on five counts of mass killings, rape, torture and kidnapping.[45]

Ghulam Azam, ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh until 2000 was found guilty by the ICT on five counts. Incitement, conspiracy, planning, abatement and failure to prevent murder. He was sentenced on 15 July 2013 to 90 years imprisonment.[46]

Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was sentenced to death by hanging on 17 July 2013.[47]

Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, who fled to UK after the liberation of Bangladesh and a leader of the London-based Jamaat organization Dawatul Islam[48] indicted for crimes against humanity and genocide and being a leader of the Al-Badr militia. He is also accused of the murder of Bangladesh's top intellectuals during the war, although he has denied all charges.[49]

Cancellation of Registration

On 27 January 2009, Bangladesh Supreme Court issued a ruling after 25 people from different Islamic organizations, including Bangladesh Tariqat Federation’s Secretary General Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, Jaker Party’s Secretary General Munshi Abdul Latif and Sammilita Islami Jote’s President Maulana Ziaul Hasan, filed a joint petition. Jamaat e Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mujaheed and the Election Commission Secretary were given six weeks time to reply, but they did not. The ruling asked to explain as to "why the Jamaat’s registration should not be declared illegal". As a verdict of the ruling, High Court cancelled the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami on 1 August 2013,[5][50] ruling that the party is unfit to contest national polls because its charter puts God above democratic process.[5][7][8][9][51]

On 5 August 2013 the Supreme Court rejected Jamaat's plea against the High Court. The chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik while rejecting the Jamaat’s petition seeking stay on the High Court verdict, said that the Jamaat could move a regular appeal before the Appellate Division against the verdict after getting its full text.[52]

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir

The student wing[53] of this organisation is the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, a major organisation at many colleges and universities including the Chittagong College, University of Chittagong, University of Dhaka, Rajshahi University, Islamic University etc. It is also influential in the madrassa system. It was known as Pakistan Islami Chattra Shangha[54] before the Liberation war of Bangladesh. Members of Pakistan Islami Chattra Shangha led the formation of Al-Badr that involved in the 1971 killing of bengali intellectuals and some of them have already been convicted by International Crimes Tribunal[55][56][57][58][59] It is a member of the International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth. Activists of this organization extort money from the students of many educational institutions, hostel residents and traders of neighbouring areas[60][61] in the name of Baitul Mal (party fund).[60][61] Activists of Shibir also pressure the students to sign the supporter's document (form) of the organization as well as join the organisation.[60] This student group is also involved in violent clashes with other student groups,[62] is extremely militant and has been linked to numerous acts of violence.[63] The group has also been linked to a number of larger terrorist organizations both in Bangladesh, and internationally.[63] It has been dubbed by the IHS Inc. as the world third most violent terrorist group.[64]

2013 violence

Further information: 2013 Bangladesh riots

February 2013, following the verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), and the announcement of death sentence of Delwar Hossain Sayidee, a leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, (who was accused of murder, arson, looting, rape, and forcefully converting non-Muslim people to Muslims[34] during the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971[65]). Supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir were involved in country-wide violence, including attacks on police, minorities, the setting fire to Hindu temples, and other destruction of property.[19][66][67][68] More than 50 temples were damaged, and more than 1500 houses and business establishments of Hindus were torched in Noakhali, Gaibandha, Chittagong, Rangpur, Sylhet, Chapainawabganj, Bogra and in many other districts of the country.[69][70][71][72] By March 2013, at least 87 people killed.[10] The Jamaat-e-Islami supporters called for the fall of the government and reunification with Pakistan, and expulsion of non-Muslim Bangladeshis.[10]

Supporters of Jamaat and its student wing Shibir stand accused of being involved in committing violence to retain their political power.[73] They have been accused of cutting opponent political party activist's tendon to instigating riot by spreading false news.[73][74][75]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ITTEFAQ.COM". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Sanjay Kumar, The Diplomat. "Islamic Fundamentalists Terrorize Minorities in Bangladesh". The Diplomat. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Bangladesh's election: The tenacity of hope". The Economist. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Bangladesh and war crimes: Blighted at birth, The Economist
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Writ Petition 630/2009 (dead link)
  6. ↑ Jamaat loses registration - bdnews24.com| bdnews24.com| 2013/08/01]
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Bangladesh court declares Jamaat illegal". aljazeera.com. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "BBC News - Bangladesh high court restricts Islamist party Jamaat". BBC News. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Farid Ahmed and Saeed Ahmed, CNN (1 August 2013). "Bangladesh high court declares rules against Islamist party". CNN. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Islam, Nozrul (7 March 2013). "BANGLADESH Islamic party wants to expel minorities, reunify with Pakistan". AsiaNews.it. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Rubin, Barry A. (2010). Guide to Islamist Movements. M.E. Sharpe. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-7656-4138-0. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Bangladesh party leader accused of war crimes in 1971 conflict". The Guardian. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Charges pressed against Ghulam Azam". New Age. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "Ghulam Azam was 'involved'". The Daily Star. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Bangladesh: Abdul Kader Mullah gets life sentence for war crimes". BBC News. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  16. ↑ "ভারতীয় চক্রান্ত বরদাস্ত করব না (We will never tolerate Indian conspiracy)". The Daily Sangram. 13 April 1971.
  17. ↑ Fair, C. Christine (16 June 2010). Pakistan: Can the United States Secure an Insecure State?. Rand Corporation. pp. 21–22. ISBN 978-0-8330-4807-3. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  18. ↑ BBC (2013), Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina rejects blasphemy law .
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 BANGLAPEDIA: Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh
  20. ↑ "National Election Result 2008: Seat Wise Total Status". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  21. ↑ Muktadhara.net: Gholam Azam
  22. ↑ Muktadhara.net:Motiur Rahman Nizami
  23. ↑ Baxter, pp. 62–63
  24. ↑ Bangladesh cyclone of 1991. Britannica Online Encyclopedia.
  25. ↑ Baxter, pp. 78–79
  26. ↑ Salik, Siddiq (1978). Witness to Surrender. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-577264-4.
  27. ↑ Rummel, Rudolph J., "Statistics of Democide: Genocide and Mass Murder Since 1900", ISBN 3-8258-4010-7, Chapter 8, table 8.1. Rummel comments that, In East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) [General Agha Mohammed Yahya Khan and his top generals] planned to indiscriminately murder hundreds of thousands of its Hindus and drive the rest into India. And they planned to destroy its economic base to ensure that it would be subordinate to West Pakistan for at least a generation to come. This despicable and cutthroat plan was outright genocide.
  28. ↑ LaPorte, R (1972). "Pakistan in 1971: The Disintegration of a Nation". Asian Survey 12 (2): 97–108. doi:10.1525/as.1972.12.2.01p0190a.
  29. ↑ Rummel, Rudolph J., YoungmanAndrew Youngmandu/powerkills/SOD.CHAP8.HTM "Statistics of Democide: Genocide and Mass Murder Since 1900", ISBN 3-8258-4010-7, Chapter 8, Table 8.2 Pakistan Genocide in Bangladesh Estimates, Sources, and Calculations.
  30. ↑ Salik, Siddiq (1977). "Politico-Military". Witness to Surrender (First ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: The University Press Limited. p. 110. ISBN 984 05 1373 7.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 BBC News - Bangladesh war crimes trial: Key defendants
  32. ↑ Karlekar, Hiranmay (2005). Bangladesh: The Next Afghanistan?. SAGE. p. 48.
  33. ↑ . The Daily Star
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/28/bangladesh-sentences-jamaat-e-islami-leader-death". The Guardian. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  35. ↑ Quadir, Serajul (21 January 2013). "Islamic cleric sentenced to death for Bangladesh war crimes". Reuters.
  36. ↑ Ahmed, Tanim; Golam Mujtaba (21 January 2013). "ICT’s death penalty for ‘Bachchu Razakar’". BD News 24.
  37. ↑ Correspondent, Staff (21 January 2012). "Azad to be hanged for war crimes". The Daily Star.
  38. ↑ "Summary of verdict in Quader Mollah case". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 6 February 2013.
  39. ↑ "Shahbagh grand rally demands ban on Jamaat", The Daily Star, 9 February 2013
  40. ↑ "Cry for Jamaat ban". Bdnews24.com. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  41. ↑ "‘Bill to ban Jamaat on way’". 12 February 2013.
  42. ↑ Jazeera, Al (28 February 2013). "Bangladesh Jamaat leader sentenced to death". Al Jazeera.
  43. ↑ Adams, Brad (16 January 2013). "Bangladesh: Find Abducted Witness". Thomson Reuters Foundation.
  44. ↑ Correspondent, Staff (16 April 2013). "Kamaruzzaman verdict ‘any day’". Bd News 24.
  45. ↑ Hossain, Farid (9 May 2013). "Backlash feared as Bangladesh sentences Islamic politician Muhammad Kamaruzzaman to death". The Independent.
  46. ↑ Khalidi, Toufique Imrose (15 July 2013). "90 years for Jamaat guru Ghulam Azam". BD News 24.
  47. ↑ India, DNA (17 July 2013). "Top Islamist Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed gets death for war crimes in Bangladesh". DNA India.
  48. ↑ Genocide 1971, An Account Of The Killers And Collaborators Genocide ’71 (5 ed.). Muktijuddha Chetana Bikash Kendra. pp. 185, 248.
  49. ↑ "British Muslim leader Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity". The Telegraph. 2 May 2013. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  50. ↑ HC declares Jamaat registration illegal
  51. ↑ http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21583297-pendulum-swings-away-sheikh-hasina-and-her-government-battling-begums Bangladesh’s volatile politics: The battling begums
  52. ↑ "Bangladesh SC rejects Jamaat’s plea against disqualification". The Hindu. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  53. ↑ "Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS)". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  54. ↑ "Islami Chhatra Shibir". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  55. ↑ The Hindu
  56. ↑ http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2012-08-03&nid=19421#.UY5zx118uo8
  57. ↑ "Key man of Al-Badr". The Daily Star. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  58. ↑ "Mirpur butcher Molla must die, says SC". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  59. ↑ http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2012-06-22&nid=14609#.URZgvPIYH2M
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 New Age
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 "Shibir rented out RU hall seats". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  62. ↑ "Islami Chhatra Shibir". Priyo News. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 "Terrorist Organization Profile: Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS)". National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  64. ↑ "Global Terrorism & Insurgency Attacks Rapidly Increase in Five Years, According to IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  65. ↑ "Tribunal hears war crimes of Sayedee", The Daily Star, 5 August 2010
  66. ↑ "Bagerhat Hindu temple set on fire". Bdnews24.com. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  67. ↑ "At Least 44 Dead in Bangladesh Clashes". Voanews.com. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  68. ↑ Ahmed, Anis (28 February 2013). "Bangladesh Islamist's death sentence sparks deadly riots". Reuters. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  69. ↑ "Hindus under attack". Daily Star. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  70. ↑ "Bagerhat, Barisal Hindu temples set ablaze". Bdnews24.com. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  71. ↑ "Nine Die in Bogra violence". bdnews24.com. 3 March 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  72. ↑ "Violent Vandalism of More Than 50 Temples of Minority Communities". Prothom Alo. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  73. ↑ 73.0 73.1 "National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism". University of Maryland. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  74. ↑ "Photoshopped pic of Sayedee used to instigate Bogra violence". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 4 March 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  75. ↑ "Fanatics used fake facebook page to run rampage in Ramu". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 14 October 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2013.

Baxter, C (1997). Bangladesh, from a Nation to a State. Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-3632-5. OCLC 47885632.

External links