Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir are collecting special funds, aside from regular donations, from the party’s supporters and also the general public to bear the expenses of party activities.
The party is collecting the money in the name of providing treatment to the party activists who were allegedly injured during clashes with police, to carry the cost of legal processes for the release of party men now in jail, and saving the senior Jamaat leaders who are facing war crimes charges at the International Crimes Tribunal.
In recent years, the party has spent large sums on these causes. It is alleged that Jamaat has recently initiated the innovative scheme to recover the money it has spent over the past four years.
While collecting such donations, the party is not providing the donors with any receipt or documentation, party sources confirmed.
Party leaders say the tradition of fund collection is a continuous process which has been occurring from the day the party was established. Every month party supporters donate a fixed amount of money for party activities. It is referred to as depositing Yanat in Baitul-Mal.
Jamaat’s Rokon – the top-level organisers – donate at least 5% from their monthly income each month, and in emergency situations they donate their full salary to the party fund. Some of the well-off Rokons donate money equal to two or three months’ income. As part of the tradition, Rokons donate one month salary every three years.
Party supporters and others who return from abroad, especially Saudi Arab and the Middle East, are allegedly being targeted for special donations. People from outside the party, called well-wishers, are usually asked to donate money for buying Qur’ans.
There are no specific figures on how much money is collected from the well-wishers. Party sources said reports on collections are provided in the party’s monthly meetings.
Former Chhatra Shibir leader and Jamaat’s Rokon from Mirpur, Mizanur Rahman, said the activists always support the party whenever it needs them. “We always support our party in emergency situations. We are now donating money following the trend,” he added.
Aminul Islam Mukul, president of one of the units at Maghbazar, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Earlier, we donated money for the purchase of land or establishments and treatment of injured party workers. Now, we are donating money for conducting regular party activities during the Eid.”
Syed Abdullah Md Taher, a central working committee member of the party and former MP, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We collect money on a regular basis. This process is validated by the party constitution. It does not have any connection with bribery.”
He said the party activists and well-wishers donate money willingly to the party fund. “Our organisation runs its activities with the money,” he added.
