Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh claims that it has formed teams consisting of more than 10,000 volunteers who have taken an oath to sacrifice their lives to establish Islamic rule in the country.
Apart from the general volunteers, small groups consisting “313 volunteers” were also formed in different areas of the country. But Hefazat leaders could not confirm the number of such teams.
The volunteers are also tasked with protecting the leaders of Hefazat in realising its 13-point demands that include reinstating “Absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah” in the Constitution, the death penalty for blasphemous acts and revoking certain women’s development and education policies, which they view as anti Islamic. They have also called for a ban on free mingling of men and women in public.
Hefazat leaders said the volunteers would be active in their Dhaka-siege programme on May 5 when they would take part in processions and “if any obstacles arise, they will combat it.”
“The rule of Allah has to be ensured in the land of Allah. Until the rule of Almighty is not being established, we will sacrifice everything, even our life, if needed, because life is given by Allah and so is death,” says the oath.
Some of these 10,000 volunteers were administered their oath by Hefazat chief Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi, also the chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasa Education Board (Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh), in Chittagong on April 1 and Dhaka on April 5.
Hefazat on April 6 organised a long-march to Dhaka and a mass rally at Motijheel intersection in the capital to press home their 13-point demands. They later held mass rallies in several other divisional and district headquarters to drum up support when many Hefazat supporters took the oath, claimed the group’s leaders.
In March too, 313 activists of Hefazat took the oath to sacrifice their lives when the group declared a counter programme and also declared a hartal in Chittagong to foil a mass rally organised by Ganajagaran Mancha.
Hefazat central leader Mufti Fayez Ullah, also the secretary general of opposition ally Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), told the Dhaka Tribune: “We will continue agitation until the 13 points demands are realised.”
He also confirmed that though the Hefazat itself was a non-political organisation, they had a number of supporters from different Islamic parties.
Islamic Chhatra Khelafat Bangladesh, the student wing of IOJ, also formed a 313-member group, which took the oath in Dhaka’s Lalbagh mosque ahead of the Motijheel rally on April 6.
Asked why “313 volunteers” was significant, several oath-takers pointed at the Badr War where the Prophet Muhammad (sm) accompanied by 313 followers fought against the anti-Islamists.
The Hefazat central leaders echoed the same observation. They said any “demon” demeaning Islam would have to face resistance by the 313-member squads.
The central president of Islami Chhatra Khelafat, Ansarul Haque Imran told the Dhaka Tribune: “Every activist from our organisation is ready to die to establish Islam and for Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi.”
He said Shafi administered oaths only to those aged above 18 years who were healthy and trained.
Some of the volunteers are also trained in martial arts. Hossain, an Islami Chhatra Khelafat member who also took the oath, said: “We are self-sufficient for our protection. We have had such training in each of our organisational area.”
He, however, said such training would not be aimed at attacking anybody. “Every activist will sacrifice their lives for Islam and for their leaders without thinking of being shot by police.”
Several oath-takers also alleged that the administration was being used by the government in performing anti-Islamic deeds including formulation of laws and policies contrary to Islam. They also expressed their concern that the government might use the law enforcers against their leaders.