News:

On May 6th 2013, BBC reported that at least 27 people had died in clashes between police and protestors demanding stronger Islamic policies to protect Islamic values in Bangladesh. The clashes have increased tensions between the government and Islamic groups, and come in the wake of the building disaster, which has left as many as 600 workers dead.

Comment:

The government of Sheikh Hasina has come under increasing pressure for its failure to improve the working conditions for its workers. On November 24, 2012 a fire broke out in Dhaka at a garments factory and left 117 people dead, and at least 200 injured. Back then thousands of garment workers protested at the site of the fire and demanded better working conditions. But the government did little to reassure the workers and also did almost nothing to mitigate the loss of international business.

Five months later, Dhaka is once again embroiled in another tragedy linked to the textile industry- has anything changed? As expected the government's response has not only been inadequate but also extremely humiliating. Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Bangladesh's Finance Minister said, "The present difficulties ... well, I don't think it is really serious - it's an accident." Is not the loss of 600 people a serious matter?  How many more lives have to be lost before the government takes this matter seriously?

The appalling state of work conditions is not the only issue that is enflaming the people. Over the past year or so, the government has been engaged in a vicious effort to curb the role of political Islam in Bangladeshi society. The arbitrary arrest and torture of Islamic activists, abductions and secret killings of people, and the blatant drive to secularize Bengali society are just some of the measures that have ignited the Islamic feelings, and prompted the people to march onto the streets and protest against the erosion of Islamic values. The latest measure of providing unstinting support to liberals to attack Islam has exacerbated the polarization in society.

Though seemingly unrelated, both events share a common thread, and amply demonstrate that the government has miserably failed to protect the life, property, honour and the Islam of the people. This abject failure is not limited to Hasina's government only, but is equally applicable to the opposition- whether they be secular or religious parties.

This callous behavior is due to not only mismanagement, incompetence or corruption as some people allege; but also to another factor-both the government and the opposition only care about themselves. They view ruling and politics as a means of fulfilling their own interests, and view serving the people a huge burden. The only time there is any interest in the affairs of the people is during elections. Thereafter, the people are quickly forgotten and the government and the opposition resume their bickering.

The only salvation for the people Bangladesh is not to look forward to the general elections in 2014 and hope that their predicament will improve. Rather, they need to work together with the sincere Islamic activists amongst them to resume the Islamic way of life by re-establishing the Caliphate. Only then will the people have their blood, property, honour and religion safeguarded by a Caliph who will work tirelessly to serve them as commanded by Allah (swt).

'إِنَّمَا الْإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَيُتَّقَى بِهِ'

"Indeed, the Khaleefah is a shield, from behind whom you fight and by whom you are protected." [Narrated by Muslim]

Abu Hashim