The qawmi madrasa based influential political party Jomiyot e Ulama e Islam is facing an internal strife after the 'democratic' removal of the party's Executive President Mufti Muhammad Wakkas.
A member of the BNP coalition, the party is facing feuds between two of its leaders for the second time in 19 months since the creation of a new committee for the party. According to internal sources, this recent feud may lead to a split in the party.
According to a number of the party's leaders, the party called for a 'sura majlish' and annual council in Dhaka on July 22. Thirteen constituent representatives were present at the gathering. The gathering, called by the party's Secretary General Moulana Nur Hossain Kashemi, was presided over by the party's Chairperson Sheikh Abdul Momin.
The Executive President's position was annulled during an amendment to the party's constitution at the gathering, although Mufti Wakkas was not present. The new constitution also annulled the agriculture, student and youth secretary positions as well.
According to the party's new constitution, the Executive President position was created at the 1991 council held on December 11-13.
Courtesy of
Bangla TribuneThe position has been held respectively by Moulana Shamsuddin Kashemi, Moulana Mohiuddin Khan, Moulana Ashraf Ali Bishhonathi, Moulana Mohiuddin Khan again, Moulana Mostafa Azad and Moulana Muhammad Wakkas since November 7, 2015.
Jomiyot had suffered internal conflict even before that council, with followers of Kashemi and Wakkas butting heads over the position of Secretary General.
After the 2015 gathering, the council amended the constitution in May 2016. Although a year had elapsed since the amendment, the annulment of the Executive President's position was kept secret.
The central committee also held two meetings about the draft constitution and amendment. The amended constitution was passed in July 22, 2017 during the 'surah majlish'.
On condition of anonymity, several Jomiyot leaders told the Bangla Tribune that the process was overseen by Moulana Nur Hossain Kashemi owing to the old age of the party's amir Sheikh Abdul Momin.
He was assisted in the process by Vice President Moulana Abdul Rob Yusufi, Moulana Junayed Al Habib, Moulana Obayedullah Faruk, Deputy Secretary Monjurul Islam Afendi and a few others.
However, Moulana Rob Yusufi has been accused of being behind the split in his former party Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and is apparently also behind the current unrest within Jomiyot.
A few leaders and supporters of Mufti Wakkas told the Bangla Tribune that Moulana Wakkas was rendered powerless through the abolition of his position. He could possibly be given the position of the party's Vice President, but he is unlikely to accept it.
This could potentially lead to a split in Jomiyot. However, three leaders and supporters of Wakkas believe that he will not leave the BNP coalition even if the split happens.
When asked about this issue, Executive President Mufti Wakkas blamed Moulana Nur Hossain Kashemi for being responsible for the abolition of the Executive President position. On July 26, he told the Bangla Tribune: “Mr Kashemi is responsible for this.
I will not have any influence any longer as just a mufti. On pen and paper, I will have more influence after the position is abolished. But the council was responsible for electing me Executive President for three years. Only they can tell me now why the amendment was suggested.”
Moulana Kashemi could not be reached for comment.
Courtesy of
Bangla TribuneMoulana Abdur Rob Yusufi, a supporter of Moulana Kashemi, told the Bangla Tribune: “The constitution was amended after extensive discussion. And what is the big deal if a position exists or not? The amendment was passed in the council after the central committee approved it twice.”
According to Jomiyot sources, the amended constitution was discussed in the July 22 council by former member of parliament Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury, Obayedullah Faruk, Junayed Al Habib, Abdul Malek Chowdhury and others. Abdul Malek Chowdhury opposed the abolition of the position, and commented that it appeared to be part of a conspiracy.
At this point, Kashemi supporter and Chattro Jomiyot President Moulana Nasir Uddin railed against Abdul Malek for his comment. The situation was brought under control by Moulana Junayed Al Habib, who gave a strongly worded speech to the council. Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury then insisted that Abdul Malek's comment was not unfounded, and opposed the exclusion of any member from the party.
The sources also said that the constitution was read aloud at the council, with Vice President Johirul Haque Bhuiyan reading the constitution's introduction. Monjurul Islam Afendi then read some other parts of the constitution.
Mufti Wakkas told the Bangla Tribune: “This all happened at the annual council. The invitation for the council was passed along by word of mouth. People from eight to ten places around the country came to the council. There is a lot of tension in the party surrounding the issue.”
Moulana Abdur Rob Yusufi said: “The Executive President position was created from a Vice President position on the demands of the constitution. The amended constitution does not have that position anymore. And Mufti Wakkas has not been excluded from the party. His position will be decided democratically in the next central committee meeting.”
When asked about the amended constitution, Moulana Junayed Al Habib said: “The Executive President position did not exist before. It was created under special circumstances. The constitution was amended in front of a 102-member council.”
According to party sources, Mufti Wakkas had been Jomiyot's Secretary General for 24 years at a stretch. He was elected Secretary General at the 1991, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2012 councils. The council then elected him Executive President on November 7, 2015. Nur Hossain Kashemi was elected Secretary General at that council.
A Wakkas supporter said: “Mufti Wakkas had been Secretary General for a very long period of time. He was also a member of parliament three times and a former religious affairs minister, which makes him the most experienced member of the party.
His appointment as the BNP coalition's representative for Jessore in the upcoming election is almost guaranteed. On the other hand, Nur Hossain Kashemi has no popularity, nor political experience. But he might join an Islamic coalition ahead of the election. In that case, the Kashemi side of Jomiyot might leave the BNP coalition, although they are considering pressing the BNP for 50 parliamentary seats in order to stay in the coalition.”
A close supporter of Mufti Wakkas said: “Mufti Wakkas' close supporters and allies have faced discrimination for the last four years. Around 25-30 such leaders have been excluded from the party. It is a high possibility that the Wakkas faction might separate from Jomiyot.
A new committee might be declared around Eid after the party has sorted itself out. But Mufti Wakkas' supporters are not willing to divulge all the details yet. When Mufti Wakkas returns to Dhaka, his supporters will meet together to discuss our options.”
Courtesy of
Bangla TribuneAnother source claimed that if Mufti Wakkas was not offered his Executive President position back again, he might declare a new committee. The Wakkas faction was prepared to declare Sheikh Noman as President and Moulana Tafazzul Haq as Vice President when the party was facing a similar situation last year as well.
Mufti Wakkas said: “I am still thinking about it. I will call a meeting, discuss with people. I will decide once I have spoken to everyone.”
When asked if he was considering leaving Jomiyot, he said: “Where will I go if I leave Jomiyot? No, everything has to be done through Jomiyot.”
“I am well loved by the more senior members and leaders of the party. I will discuss what to do with them. I try not to think about it too much. I am getting old. Allah has decided a political career for me. But it is not right to play such trivial games with the party,” he added.
He also mentioned that he would not leave the BNP coalition, or join a new Islamic coalition.
When asked about a possible split within the group, Kashemi supporter and Vice President of the party Junayed Al Habib said: “There is no split within Jomiyot. The party is more unified than ever before.”
However, a close supporter of Mufti Wakkas said that the split between Mufti Wakkas and Nur Hossain Kashemi, Junayed Al Habib and Abdur Rob Yusufi happened over setting the party's agenda, including Wakkas' opposition of the party's sit-in at the Shapla Chottor on May 5, 2013.
This article was first published on the Bangla Tribune
Courtesy of Bangla TribuneThe position has been held respectively by Moulana Shamsuddin Kashemi, Moulana Mohiuddin Khan, Moulana Ashraf Ali Bishhonathi, Moulana Mohiuddin Khan again, Moulana Mostafa Azad and Moulana Muhammad Wakkas since November 7, 2015.
Jomiyot had suffered internal conflict even before that council, with followers of Kashemi and Wakkas butting heads over the position of Secretary General.
After the 2015 gathering, the council amended the constitution in May 2016. Although a year had elapsed since the amendment, the annulment of the Executive President's position was kept secret.
The central committee also held two meetings about the draft constitution and amendment. The amended constitution was passed in July 22, 2017 during the 'surah majlish'.
On condition of anonymity, several Jomiyot leaders told the Bangla Tribune that the process was overseen by Moulana Nur Hossain Kashemi owing to the old age of the party's amir Sheikh Abdul Momin.
He was assisted in the process by Vice President Moulana Abdul Rob Yusufi, Moulana Junayed Al Habib, Moulana Obayedullah Faruk, Deputy Secretary Monjurul Islam Afendi and a few others.
However, Moulana Rob Yusufi has been accused of being behind the split in his former party Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and is apparently also behind the current unrest within Jomiyot.
A few leaders and supporters of Mufti Wakkas told the Bangla Tribune that Moulana Wakkas was rendered powerless through the abolition of his position. He could possibly be given the position of the party's Vice President, but he is unlikely to accept it.
This could potentially lead to a split in Jomiyot. However, three leaders and supporters of Wakkas believe that he will not leave the BNP coalition even if the split happens.
When asked about this issue, Executive President Mufti Wakkas blamed Moulana Nur Hossain Kashemi for being responsible for the abolition of the Executive President position. On July 26, he told the Bangla Tribune: “Mr Kashemi is responsible for this.
I will not have any influence any longer as just a mufti. On pen and paper, I will have more influence after the position is abolished. But the council was responsible for electing me Executive President for three years. Only they can tell me now why the amendment was suggested.”
Moulana Kashemi could not be reached for comment.
Courtesy of Bangla TribuneMoulana Abdur Rob Yusufi, a supporter of Moulana Kashemi, told the Bangla Tribune: “The constitution was amended after extensive discussion. And what is the big deal if a position exists or not? The amendment was passed in the council after the central committee approved it twice.”
According to Jomiyot sources, the amended constitution was discussed in the July 22 council by former member of parliament Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury, Obayedullah Faruk, Junayed Al Habib, Abdul Malek Chowdhury and others. Abdul Malek Chowdhury opposed the abolition of the position, and commented that it appeared to be part of a conspiracy.
At this point, Kashemi supporter and Chattro Jomiyot President Moulana Nasir Uddin railed against Abdul Malek for his comment. The situation was brought under control by Moulana Junayed Al Habib, who gave a strongly worded speech to the council. Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury then insisted that Abdul Malek's comment was not unfounded, and opposed the exclusion of any member from the party.
The sources also said that the constitution was read aloud at the council, with Vice President Johirul Haque Bhuiyan reading the constitution's introduction. Monjurul Islam Afendi then read some other parts of the constitution.
Mufti Wakkas told the Bangla Tribune: “This all happened at the annual council. The invitation for the council was passed along by word of mouth. People from eight to ten places around the country came to the council. There is a lot of tension in the party surrounding the issue.”
Moulana Abdur Rob Yusufi said: “The Executive President position was created from a Vice President position on the demands of the constitution. The amended constitution does not have that position anymore. And Mufti Wakkas has not been excluded from the party. His position will be decided democratically in the next central committee meeting.”
When asked about the amended constitution, Moulana Junayed Al Habib said: “The Executive President position did not exist before. It was created under special circumstances. The constitution was amended in front of a 102-member council.”
According to party sources, Mufti Wakkas had been Jomiyot's Secretary General for 24 years at a stretch. He was elected Secretary General at the 1991, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2012 councils. The council then elected him Executive President on November 7, 2015. Nur Hossain Kashemi was elected Secretary General at that council.
A Wakkas supporter said: “Mufti Wakkas had been Secretary General for a very long period of time. He was also a member of parliament three times and a former religious affairs minister, which makes him the most experienced member of the party.
His appointment as the BNP coalition's representative for Jessore in the upcoming election is almost guaranteed. On the other hand, Nur Hossain Kashemi has no popularity, nor political experience. But he might join an Islamic coalition ahead of the election. In that case, the Kashemi side of Jomiyot might leave the BNP coalition, although they are considering pressing the BNP for 50 parliamentary seats in order to stay in the coalition.”
A close supporter of Mufti Wakkas said: “Mufti Wakkas' close supporters and allies have faced discrimination for the last four years. Around 25-30 such leaders have been excluded from the party. It is a high possibility that the Wakkas faction might separate from Jomiyot.
A new committee might be declared around Eid after the party has sorted itself out. But Mufti Wakkas' supporters are not willing to divulge all the details yet. When Mufti Wakkas returns to Dhaka, his supporters will meet together to discuss our options.”
Courtesy of Bangla TribuneAnother source claimed that if Mufti Wakkas was not offered his Executive President position back again, he might declare a new committee. The Wakkas faction was prepared to declare Sheikh Noman as President and Moulana Tafazzul Haq as Vice President when the party was facing a similar situation last year as well.
Mufti Wakkas said: “I am still thinking about it. I will call a meeting, discuss with people. I will decide once I have spoken to everyone.”
When asked if he was considering leaving Jomiyot, he said: “Where will I go if I leave Jomiyot? No, everything has to be done through Jomiyot.”
“I am well loved by the more senior members and leaders of the party. I will discuss what to do with them. I try not to think about it too much. I am getting old. Allah has decided a political career for me. But it is not right to play such trivial games with the party,” he added.
He also mentioned that he would not leave the BNP coalition, or join a new Islamic coalition.
When asked about a possible split within the group, Kashemi supporter and Vice President of the party Junayed Al Habib said: “There is no split within Jomiyot. The party is more unified than ever before.”
However, a close supporter of Mufti Wakkas said that the split between Mufti Wakkas and Nur Hossain Kashemi, Junayed Al Habib and Abdur Rob Yusufi happened over setting the party's agenda, including Wakkas' opposition of the party's sit-in at the Shapla Chottor on May 5, 2013.
This article was first published on the Bangla Tribune