The repeated controversies involving Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami top leaders and policymakers have exposed the party to growing public criticism and internal challenges as it seeks to preserve its reputation for organisational discipline.

The circulation of videos showing Gazi Nazrul Islam, a member of parliament from Satkhira-4, in an intimate setting with a girl has become the latest episode, as the party has pledged to establish the facts by taking action under its organisational rules and regulations in this regard.

Alongside this, a series of recent incidents, including breaches of discipline within the party, the emergence of rebel candidates, attacks on journalists, allegations against elected public representatives and attempts to exert influence at the local level, have raised a fresh question about Jamaat’s image as a disciplined religion-based political party.

The religion-based political organisation, for the first time in history, has attained the status of the main opposition in the parliament, but within a few months of reaching the new height, the party has found itself grappling with an image crisis amid a series of controversies involving its lawmakers.

Recently, allegations of violating party discipline have been brought against several top leaders and activists and the party has also taken action against many of them based on evidence.

Apart from Gazi Nazrul Islam’s scandal involving misconduct with a woman, Jamaat Lawmaker from Narail-2 Ataur Rahman Bacchu has come under sharp criticism as he included his daughter’s name among the beneficiaries of a government grant fund.

The incident has reignited public debate and criticism over the accountability and transparency of the lawmaker, holding the party’s organisational discipline and oversight questionable.

On 23 June, journalists were attacked following an altercation that broke out after a local Jamaat protest procession in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.

Jamaat expelled four of its members in connection with the incident and formally expressed regret and announced that action would be taken against those responsible, subject to an investigation.

Earlier, on 27 March, Md Amir Hamza, Jamaat lawmaker from Kushtia-3, during a discussion held prior to the Friday sermon at a local mosque, described Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, the minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, as an atheist and anti-Islamic.

Subsequently, a video of the speech circulated on social media and was broadcast across various media outlets and later, the Jamaat lawmaker came under bitter criticism from people of all walks of life.

Jamaat-e-Islami faced widespread criticism over controversial remarks by two of its lawmakers during the budget session of the 13th parliament.

Taking part in the budgetary session on 17 June, Chapainawabganj-2 MP Md Mizanur Rahman drew backlash after demanding washing machines, microwave ovens and curtains for their government flats.

Earlier on 14 June, Nilphamari-4 MP Abdul Muntakim claimed 47 members of his family were freedom fighters and said his father was martyred in the Liberation War.

The claim was later contradicted by reports showing he was born in 1981 and his father is alive, triggering criticism both inside and outside the parliament.

Meanwhile, Jamaat expelled several leaders from different parts of the country as they took part in the 13th parliamentary election, violating the organisational decision.

Similar action was taken against many of its leaders as they attempted to establish supremacy in their respective areas after the 12 February national election, according to Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Spokesperson Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair.

As the main opposition party in parliament, Jamaat is now facing greater public expectations and scrutiny, said a policymaker of Jamaat, wishing not to be named.

Against the backdrop of the video circulation involving Gazi Nazrul Islam has become one of the party’s biggest sources of political embarrassment and internal discomfort, the Jamaat lawmaker said, adding that this is the first instance of a leader’s name publicly surfacing in a scandal involving a woman within party politics.

Meanwhile, Jamaat lawmaker from Jashore-4, Golam Rasul and his daughter became involved in a dispute after entering a madrasa over a road-related issue near their residence on Tuesday, triggering an attack by local residents on the MP’s home.

Later, hundreds of people staged a demonstration by blocking the Jashore-Narail highway for nearly three hours. At one stage, the MP and his family apologised in a Facebook live session and appealed for reconciliation.

Expressing frustration over these unpleasant incidents involving the party leaders, the source, who is also a member of the parliament, said Khelafat Majlis, a component of the 11-party alliance, has recently announced that it would no longer participate in any programmes organised under the banner of the alliance.

The Jamaat-led alliance may face another rift in selecting mayoral candidates for the Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections, likely to be held at the end of the current year and early next year, according to the party insider.

While talking to the Media, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Spokesperson Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair said that regular organisational training has been hampered over the past 17 years due to the persistent fascist role of the Awami League tenures.

At the same time, the party’s organisational expansion has grown significantly compared to the past, making it difficult to establish control over everyone at the grassroots level, he said.

“Wrong information is going to the media and it is making a mountain out of a molehill,” Zubair said, calling upon the media men to do objective journalism relating to the issues of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

He, however, acknowledged wrongdoings of his party’s lawmakers, including the circulation of a video involving MP Gazi Nazrul Islam and said organisational action has already been taken against the leader.

“An organisation should not be held accountable for the wrongdoings of an individual,” he said, responding to a query, adding that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is an organised and disciplined political organisation imbued with the spirit of Islam.

“Despite this, we take action against any of our leaders, considering their personal dignity, organisational image and social status in light of the party’s core principles and ideals,” he said, noting that no compromise with wrongdoers.

বাংলাদেশ সময়: ৯:০০:১৯   ১ বার পঠিত