Interview of Kazi Azizul Huq with Sunita Paul (published the Asian Tribune 30 March 2008)

 At 09:53 AM 3/29/2008, Sunita Paul wrote:

Respected Mr. Kazi Huq,

 Thanks for sending information regarding your party 'Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan'. If I am not mistaking, English translation of this name stands for 'Bangladesh caliphate Movement'. Do you preach Caliphate State in Bangladesh?

I have gone through several documents available on the net, and the name of your party was mentioned at least in a talk show on Voice of America. It was stated that, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan supports withdrawal of travel ban on Israel. This is something very unique and exception for me to hear from an Islamic political party. As I know, most of the Islamist and Islamic parties in Bangladesh are against withdrawal of travel ban. In your case, you are very exception. May you kindly elaborate the reason as to why you feel that Bangladesh should lift travel ban on Israel?

With your kind permission, may I interview you for my next item, which shall possibly be published in several newsmedia in India and elsewhere?

My questions are:

1. Being an Islamist political party, why Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan also supports lifting travel ban on Israel?

2. Does this travel ban has anything to do with Koran?

3. Why and how you and your party became interested in promoting inter-faith dialogue?

4. What are the basic principles of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan in ensuring rights of religious minority?

5. How do you look into the neo aspect of leftist-athiest-Islamist alliance in many countries in the world?

6. What are the basic reasons for many of the Bangladeshis to be anti American, anti West and anti Semitic? Who are responsible for such tendency?

Hopefully, you will please try to reply to my questions.

One of the newspapers named CFP has carried my recent piece on leftist-athiest-islamist allince. If you will not be able to locate the article, I shall send you the link.

Thanks again

Sunita

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Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:45:53 +0600

To: "Sunita Paul" <...>

From: K A Huq <kahuq@dhaka.net>

Subject: Re: Bangladesh Caliphate Movement

Cc: khelafat@dhaka.net

Dhaka, Saturday March 29, 2008.

Respected Ms. Sunita Paul,

Assalamu Alaykum.

Acknowledge with thanks receipt of your mail.

I am attaching herewith soft-copy of selected compilation of our ongoing Muslim-Jews Dialogue. Please specifically read the Appendix Pages 36-39, which we hope will answer much of your inquiries.

The word 'Caliphate' is used in the books of history also to mean the autocratic and imperialistic governments of the Umayyads, Abbasides and Ottoman Turkey. Our understanding of 'Khelafat' is different. We say "Khelafat Ala Minhazin-Nabuwat" i.e. Governance by divine viceroy treading the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (pbuh)."

Our understanding of 'Khelafat' comes from the verse of the Holy Quran wherein Allah says that He decided to create His 'Khalifa' i.e. human specie (Hazrat Adam the First human) on the Earth. By 'Khelafat' we mean that the Governance to be for the human by the human who is obedient to God and knows and practices the Will of God.

However please find hereunder my response to your questions:-

1. Ban on Travel to Israel is not a religious ban. It is a political decision of our state.  Since our state policy is to support the Palestinians, our government adopted a policy not to recognize Israel unless Israel leaves all occupied lands and allow Palestinians to have an independent viable Palestinian State. Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon wants the travel ban to be withdrawn since our government should not continue to deny its Muslim & Christian citizens of the right to make pilgrimage to Holy sites in Palestine & Israel.

2. The Holy Quran does not prohibit Muslims from travelling to any land.

3. Hazrat Hafezzi Huzur (Peace be upon him), the founder of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, often recited verses of the Quran wherein Allah says that the whole mankind is the progeny of single pair of parents Hazrat Adam & Hazrat Hawa @Eve (Peace be upon them). He also often said "Muslims are our brethren in Faith while non-Muslims are our kin since we are all children of Adam & Eve (Peace be upon them)". Thus in Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon we have an environment of promoting compassion and generosity among mankind. So we have been trying to resolve our problems with other communities through sincere dialogue and mutual understanding.

4. Our Holy Prophet (pbuh) migrated from Makkah to Yathrib (Medina) on the invitation and consent of those most of who were friendly Jews and Pagans. At that time there were less than 500 Muslims in Yathrib (Medina) while the population of Yathrib (Medina) was nearly 10,000 - about  fifty percent Jews and fifty percent Pagans. Those majority Jews and Pagans chose Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh)   to become the political head and administrator of the City State of Medina and Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh)  guaranteed their rights and status by Medina Charter which called all citizens of Medina irrespective of religion as "Ummah". On the other hand, his own relatives and tribe in Makkah were called "Kafir" not because they were idol-worshipers but because they were enemies. Hazrat Mohammed (pbuh) being the head of a minority religious community was chosen as the Political Head of the State by the majority who did not want to follow the religion of Hazrat Mohammed (pbuh). So while he was the political as well as religious head of the Muslim community, he was only the political head of the majority citizens of Madina who were non-Muslims.  From it we can derive the principles and environment of the polity of Khelafat.

5. Mr. Steve Johnson has recently (26 March 2008) written in the GLOBAL POLITICIAN under the title 'Our ally in war on terror in trouble':-

"So called seculars, which are generally anti-American and pro-Communists are playing important role in fixing strategies for the administration in Dhaka. Because of such interactions between the administration and anti-American lobbies moderate Muslims as well as liberal Islamic parties are in danger." 

The distinction between 'Islamist' and 'Islamic' is important. 'Islamists' are more concerned with mundane gains that are acquirable in the name of Islam, while 'Islamic' people are more concerted with salvation in the life Hereafter through growing Faith in Allah and discharging duties and obligations in this world. So 'Islamist' are also a sort of materialists like the communists. In Bangladesh leftist-atheist-Islamist alliance is still not that much visible. Rather the Communists here are trying to use US Administration to eliminate both Islamists and Islamic groups. I am not yet much aware of leftist-atheist-Islamist alliance in other countries of the world. I should be grateful if you kindly provide me with materials for study in this regard.

6. People of Bangladesh in general dislike Anglo-American Occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. At the same time most of them would like to see their children to go to Europe and US to earn money for solvency. Those who get education from western type schools usually are infected with vices such as ego, selfishness, hatred, revenge, arrogance, cruelty, etc. On the other hand those who get education in traditional religious schools normally learn to get rid of ego, selfishness, hatred, revenge, arrogance, cruelty etc. So, I think, western type general education system in our countries are mainly responsible for it. Anti-Semitism is an European phenomena. But since the creation of Israel and continuous propagation of Jewish oppression of Muslims in Palestine have turned Muslims to be prejudiced against the Jews. Secret British policy seems to be deliberately fueling this confrontation between Muslims and Jews.

Kindly send to me the link of your article on leftist-atheist-Islamist alliance, and also other relevant materials for study.

Thanking you with best regards.

Kazi Aziz

Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:26:33 +0600

To: "Sunita Paul" <....>

From: K A Huq <kahuq@dhaka.net>

Subject: Re: Asian Tribune Article : Bangladesh's Next Destination

Respected Ms. Sunita Paul,

Assalamu Alaykum.

Thanks for sending to me the link of your latest item published in the Asian Tribune. Yes, I have read the article and got print of hard-copy for preservation.

I appreciate your analysis, frankness and force of expression.

You wrote "A state could be said to 'succeed' if it maintains a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within its borders."

I think, some foreign vested interests have deliberately worked to strip the Central Government of Bangladesh of "its monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within its borders". Their project(s) to weaken central coercive power of Bangladesh Government through purchasing loyalty of people both within (intelligence community and ruling elite : political, civil, military) and outside (media, intellectual, politicians, NGOs) the administration will be counterproductive.

I am not against Jihad. Each and every pious Muslim is engaged in Jihad. I myself is engaged in Jihad.

I say "Quaumi Madrasas are not breeding grounds of terrorists". The fact is that the Non-Government Islamic Madrasa in Bangladesh (i.e. Quaumi Madrasa) are NGO Islamic schools which are struggling to protect and promote Islamic Heritage & Culture. Literacy in Islamic scripts and orientation in righteous pious life is their main concern. 

The Colonial British established the first Alia Madras in Calcutta headed by a White British Christian Principal for creating an obedient class of Muslim clerics to pacify the Muslim population to accept British colonial rule.  Shaikh Abdur Rahman was a student of such a Alia Madrasa curriculum. So far I know, the so-called Bangla Bhai had his education in School and College which follows western model. None of them studied in Quaumi Madrasa of Deobondi tradition. And most of the "sixty thousand madrasa of Bangladesh" often referred in the international media are Non-Government Quaumi Madrasa.

With Salam and best regards,

Sincerely

Kazi Aziz

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Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 23:31:52 +0600

From: "Sunita Paul" <.....>

To: "K A Huq" <kahuq@dhaka.net>

Subject: From Sunita

Respected Kazi Huq,

 Namastey!

Asian Tribune's Saturday edition is having my another write up titled "DHAKA SUPRESSES FACT".

In my next article I shall discuss about Hizb Ut Tahrir, which is in fact a precise notoriety of the British intelligence. Most of you although feel that India and United States are enemies of Islam, in reality, these British are common enemies of all believers in the world. We, believers are rather scattered here and there. And our enemies are taking the advantage of such separation.

Each day, I am getting news on Bangladesh from the web, and have to continue my topics, not only to give chance to rulers in Dhaka to ratify but also in many cases to minimize the information gap.

I shall write another piece on BKA soon. Please let me know, which areas should I cover.

You are always in my prayers. I must endorse that, your courage, honesty and commitment is making me absolutely admired. Moreover, I know, what you have done for our common friend in Bangladesh, who is facing difficult time now, due to RAB's latest episode. For this, you have my whole hearted gratitude.

Regards

 Sunita

Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:03:37 +0600

To: "Sunita Paul" <......>

From: K A Huq <kahuq@dhaka.net>

Subject: Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon

N.B.

From the the title of your article "They Hate US West too", some people are thinking that Khelafat Andolon hates US West. It is not true. We do not hate anyone. Hatred is sinful act. When we say we oppose Anglo-US occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, we do not mean that we hate UK and USA.

Rgds - KAH

Respected Ms. Sunita Paul,

Assalamu Alaykum.

I have read your article in the Asian Tribune this morning. ...

Multiple local surveys revealed that:-

60% (sixty percent ) militants of JMB had general educational background (schools/colleges/curriculum by colonial British). 

36% (thirty six percent) militants of JMB had Alia Madrasa background (introduced by Colonial British with a British Christian Principal)

4% (four percent) militants of JMB had Quaumi Madrasa background (age-old traditional madrasa system of education revived and reformed by founders of Deobond Madrasa of India)

In the Weekly Blitz of 11 July 2007 as Statement of Mr. Sanjeeb Chowdhury (a leading Hindu Journalist of Bangladesh) was published. He wrote:-

"Since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 the leaders and administrators including those who politically lead the country and the parliament and the civil and military bureaucracy have been generally secular elite, educated in western type colleges and universities. In fact since the partition of the Indian Sub-continent in 1948 till today national secularists have been ruling this territory. These secularists, who are generally irreligious, did not miss any opportunity to misuse religion for political or other gains. Irreligious secular rulers are responsible for whatever deprivation, discrimination and oppression religious minorities have suffered in Bangladesh from the beginning till today. Madrasha educated Religious Islamic clergies have never ruled or administered Bangladesh. They have not done any wrong to we the religious minorities in Bangladesh."

I sent copy of above article to Father Timm. He sent to me his comments and I sent to him my comments. I wrote:-

"The leading Islamic Clergies of Deobond Tradition (Quaumi Madrasa System) were also leaders of Indian freedom movement and were against partition of the Indian Sub-continent. The secular educational institutions (School/College/University) and Alia Madrasa System introduced by the British have been the breeding grounds of the communal elements. Islamic Clergies of the Quaumi Madrasa System since the beginning till today have been advocating religious moral life, kinship of mankind based on the belief that all humans are children of Adam & Eve (Blessings of God be upon them), aspiration for freedom from colonization imperialism and hegemonism. .... As regards my own Islamic views, vulnerability of the poor, underprivileged, minorities, refugees & displaced persons is an universal phenomena. There is a news published today          (27 July) in the Daily Amader Shomoy Page-3 Column-4 captioned "67 Percent Citizen of the US are Racist" ( www.amadershomoy.com). Arrogance of the Majority, Arrogance of Wealth & Power  - are vices from which Islam wants to save the mankind. Islam teaches to be modest, non-egoist and non-arrogant. Islam teaches compassion, generosity and benevolence. Islam teaches not to be selfish. Islam teaches virtues of liberty, freedom and justice. But the problem is that we Muslims have deviated from Islam. Our rulers are mercenaries of foreign hegemonies. US Gov't wants to dominate the world politically and economically while EU wants to dominate the world culturally. Pious Muslims can accept neither domination. So they are afraid of pious Muslims. They want to drive the Muslims away from Islam. They are desperately using their firepower to humiliate the Muslims. Islam is a religion which discourages revenge. Islam is a religion which discourages secret societies. But US and EU by imposing humiliation on Muslims are turning a generation to be revengeful and form secret societies. In secret societies a generation of Muslims are becoming perverts - they are resorting to such activities and practices which are usually prohibited in Islam. " (pls see the attachment)

I suggest more interactions and more in-depth studies before drawing any conclusion on Deobondi type Madrasa education.

For your kind information it is necessary to know that Dobondis are not Wahhabis. Deobondis are Hanafi Muslims who believe in and practice Tariqua and obey respective Pir Saheb, while the Wahhabis condemn Pirs and Tariqa as polytheism. In fact Ahle Hadis are similar to Wahabbis of  the GCC countries.

With best wishes and best regards,

Sincerely

Kazi Aziz

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Interview of Kazi Azizul Huq with Ms. Sunita Paul as published in  the Asian Tribune:-

- Asian Tribune -

 Sun, 2008-03-30

They hate US-West too

Sun, 2008-03-30 02:24 By Sunita Paul

Bangladesh, although demanding to be a moderate Muslim nation, is in reality a notorious Jew hater and anti West and anti American nation.

This was proved when a front ranking leader of Bangladesh Caliphate Movement, Kazi Azizul Huq was asked as to what are the basic reasons for many of the Bangladeshis to be anti American, anti West and anti Semitic? Who are responsible for such tendency?

Mr. Huq replied, "People of Bangladesh in general dislike Anglo-American Occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. At the same time most of them would like to see their children to go to Europe and US to earn money for solvency. Those who get education from western type schools usually are infected with vices such as ego, selfishness, hatred, revenge, arrogance, cruelty, etc. On the other hand those who get education in traditional religious schools normally learn to get rid of ego, selfishness, hatred, revenge, arrogance, cruelty etc. So, I think, western type general education system in our countries is mainly responsible for it. Anti-Semitism is a European phenomenon. But since the creation of Israel and continuous propagation of Jewish oppression of Muslims in Palestine have turned Muslims to be prejudiced against the Jews. Secret British policy seems to be deliberately fueling this confrontation between Muslims and Jews."

From this statement it is quite clear that people of Bangladesh in general are West and US haters and the only reason for them for sending their children to these countries are for mere money making. He also argued that those who get education in traditional religious schools normally learn to get rid of ego, selfishness, hatred, revenge, arrogance, cruelty etc.

Wish Mr. Huq's comments were true. But, in reality what we have witnessed? Religious schools are the worst breeding grounds of Jihadists not only in Bangladesh but everywhere in the world.

But, one point raised by the leader of Bangladesh Caliphate Movement deserves greatest admiration. He (Mr. Huq) has openly acknowledged that Muslims are prejudiced against Jews because of propaganda saying Israelis are oppressing Palestinians. In this case, one valid question may appear in the minds of many. Who are behind such propaganda? British intelligence or Afro-Arab funds. I personally think, there is no reason to suspect any British involvement in such heinous propaganda against Jews and Israel. We can precisely say that Saudi Wahabi regime and leaders of Iran and other ultra Islamist nations are funding and patronizing such continuous campaign against Jews and Israel. As a result, many of the Muslim nations, including Bangladesh are continuing travel ban on Israel.

Mr. Kazi Azizul Huq categorically mentions that the Holy Quran does not prohibit Muslims from traveling to any land. Ban on Travel to Israel is not a religious ban. It is a political decision of our state. He also says that, the state policy of Bangladesh is to support the Palestinians; Bangladeshi government adopted a policy not to recognize Israel unless Israel leaves all occupied lands and allow Palestinians to have an independent viable Palestinian State.

So, if we once again take the comments of the leader of Bangladeshi Caliphate Movement into consideration, we shall clearly understand that, Dhaka stands as a potential pressure group on Israel and the Jews in accepting ridiculous demand of the Palestinian authority. Dhaka's stand has nothing to do with the Holy Quran, but is absolutely a political position. In this case, let us leave a question to all as to whether Bangladesh is trying to echo the anti Semitic sentiment by becoming one-sided supporter of Palestine. As we all know, in recent past, countries like Pakistan has even lifted travel ban on Israel and Wahabite Saudi Arabia is even continuing business relations with Jerusalem. But, Dhaka wants to be much rigid than the Saudis or many other Muslim nations.

Definitely, any sovereign nation has the right to hold its own policy. But, in this case, can we raise a plain question as to whether the Jewish business communities and friends of Israel like United States should patronize Dhaka economically to sharpen and strengthen their anti Semitic and anti US sentiments?

Yes, one thing I must endorse here that Mr. Huq did not take any refuge of hypocrisy in expressing his thoughts on the mentioned issues. He tried to defend his own confession and position by saying that religious schools are not the breeding grounds of Jihadists. In this case, should we say as to whether Bangladeshi government offensives on Madrassas and capture and execution of Jamaatul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB) kingpins were wrong? If we shall look into the crime record in Bangladesh and list of seized explosives and other lethal weapons from the Madrassas, we can easily say that, what Mr. Huq wanted to say are not prolific at all.

He too tried to divert the attention to a very different direction, by using negative words on non-religious schools. Let me get even one example from him on any existence of Jihadists in general educational institutions in Bangladesh or elsewhere. Possibly he will try to name student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, which are seen confronting in various educational institutions (non religious) in Bangladesh. But, they are not Jihadists. They are political thugs like all other political thugs belonging to all major political parties in the country.

Sunita Paul is considered to be an expert on South Asian affairs.

- Asian Tribune -

 Sun, 2008-03-30

Interview of Kazi Azizul Huq with the Blitz Editor

Weekly Blitz 27 Feb 2007

Blitz: In the international media there have been certain campaign saying that your party is a radical group, which supports terrorism in the name of Islam and also it supports suicide bombing and jihad for killing Jews and Christians. What is your opinion about that?

Huq: The allegations you are referring to specifically ending at Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, I have never heard that way. Because in Bangladesh such a situation is not existent, and as regards international situation, yes, we support the liberation movement of Afghanistan, not the NATO occupation and US occupation. Yes, we support those who are struggling to liberate Iraq from the occupation of USA and their allies and also we support the liberation struggle of the Palestinians. But, we have reservations about fixing human beings, innocent people as targets for military attack. In fact in our opinion, the way now-a-days explosive and other ammunition are used against civilians was initiated by the US military at the end of the Second World War, when they dropped nuclear weapons on the civilians of Japan. And such a practice has become rampant all over the world which in Islam we do not accept. Yes, in modern warfare there are some collateral damages. If the strugglers or the liberation forces are Muslims it is an obligation to minimize collateral damages and to be specific about military targets. Regarding terrorist activities, we mean killing innocent people, putting bomb in railways, putting bomb on residential areas etc., we do not support. We think such practice must be changed. In recent days, for example, in Iraq, they are targeting American helicopters. We think that is the right way of dealing with the matter. We should not target the civilians the way Jamaatul Mujahedin in Bangladesh was doing.

Blitz: You just mentioned that you support the so-called liberation movement in Afghanistan. Does it mean that you support the Talibans to be back in power?

Huq: Yes, we support the Talibans. But we think that they need to be abreast of time. It is very much needed for them to understand that to run a government at our time, it should be acceptable to the international community as well as to the people of the nation. Talibans, I think, they made some mistakes, and such mistakes should not be repeated.

Blitz: You just said that BKA opposes using civilians as human shields. But in recent war between Israel and Lebanon, Hezbollah used so many innocent civilians as human shields. How you would look into this issue?

Huq: I don’t think that Hezbollah used civilians as human shields. Rather the situation is, the area Israel choose to attack, civilians there did not intend to leave their homes in spite of the threat of military attacks from Israel. May be because they had been sympathetic to the Hezbollah and they supported the Hezbollah.

Blitz: But, so far we know, the innocent civilians were not allowed to leave their houses and forced to stay at home by the militant members of Hezbollah, in order to let them become human shields. What would be your comment on it?

Huq: We don’t have exact information in this regard, but whatever we have learnt from the media like Al Jazeera, BBC, and CNN etc., it was made clear that those people voluntarily remained there. They did not want to leave their homes.

Blitz: Do you support religious freedom?

Huq: Surely! Our leader Hafezzi Huzur in many meetings said, “Muslim are my brothers and sister and non-Muslims are my kin’, because we all are the children of Adam & Eve (Peace be upon them). So, non-Muslims always exist in the Muslim society. And they are free to practice their religion. Yes, Muslim clergies will also continue to preach Islam, and if any of them voluntarily decides to adopt Islam they must also be given that option. But no one should be forced to obey Islam.

Blitz: Recently your party has written a letter to the Chief Advisor in Bangladesh, suggesting withdrawal of existing travel ban on Israel. What was the point that moved you in taking such an excellent step?

Huq: We have written to the Chief Advisor of the present government mentioning details of this issue. We see that occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has been clandestinely supported by Iran. They even celebrated these occupations. So in this case, our understanding is that, it is simply unnecessary to quarrel with Israel. When the Muslims themselves are stabbing each-other at the back, what is the necessity of quarreling with Israel? As to the travel ban, it is not a religious ban. Because, Allah never prohibited Muslims from traveling to any country in the world. Even when the Muslims were driven out of Mecca, and the Ka’aba was controlled by the polytheists, Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) traveled to Mecca and performed Umra. So, though at that time, Mecca was under occupation of the polytheists, statues and idols were inside Ka’aba, still Prophet visited Mecca and offered prayer at Ka’aba. So why Bangladesh Government restrictions on traveling to Jerusalem should not be withdrawn? It is one of our holiest places. .. So, Muslims in Bangladesh should not be deprived of visiting holy places in Jerusalem.

Blitz: Finally, what is your opinion about the Palestinian suicide bombers?

Huq: To commit suicide is prohibited in Islam. But Islamic Shariah is non-rigid, flexible and elastic. For example, pork and wine are prohibited in Islam. But if someone is in such a situation that he or she does not have anything to eat and drink but pork and wine, then he or she may take pork and wine as little as possible to save life. Similarly if there is no other way to confront the enemy but to sacrifice one’s own life then it may be permissible as little as possible to confront the armed enemy. But it can not be made a common practice of war. A Muslim must not be revengeful. Muslims must not target unarmed civilians of enemy nation or community.