| Hizb ut-Tahrir (Bangladesh) | |
| Native Name: | Arabic: حزب التحرير |
| Colorcode: |
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| Banned: | [1] |
| Founder: | Global founder, Taqiuddin al-Nabhani |
| Ideology: | Pan-Islamism Islamism Muslim supremacism Caliphalism Salafism Jihadism Anti-secularism Anti-Western sentiment Anti-Hindu sentiment Anti-Christian sentiment Anti-nationalism Antisemitism Anti-Zionism Anti-democracy Anti-liberalism Anti-communism Anti-feminism "Hizb ut-Tahrir Constitution"[2] |
| Religion: | Sunni Islam |
| Flag Title: | Flag |
| International: | Hizb ut-Tahrir |
| Country: | Bangladesh |
| Website: | https://ht-bangladesh.info/ |
Hizb ut-Tahrir (ar|حزب التحرير;bn|হিযবুত তাহরীর|Hiyabuta tāharīra bānlādēśa) is an international pan-Islamist and fundamentalist organisation which also has a national outfit in Bangladesh. The organisation was banned by the Government of Bangladesh under the Anti-Terrorism Act.[3] It is affiliated with its international counterpart, Hizb ut-Tahrir, and the regional branch, Hizb ut-Tahrir Central Asia.[4]
Mohiuddin Ahmed, Dhaka University teacher, is said to have been the chief coordinator of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Bangladesh. He was forced into retirement after the organization was banned in 2009. He was charged under Anti-terrorism Act in 2016.[5] Shafiur Rahman Farabi, a leader of the organization was charged in the murder of blogger and secular activist Ananta Bijoy Das in March 2017.[6] The group is alleged to have ties with government, security, and university officials.[7]
Hizb ut-Tahrir was banned on 22 October 2009. Some people claimed that the group wanted to establish a caliphate in Bangladesh and did not support democracy in the country. At the time of its ban, the group listed its address as HM Siddique Mansion, 55/A Purana Paltan, 4th Floor, Dhaka.[8] [9]
The group supported the 2011 Bangladesh coup d'état attempt by some members of Bangladesh Army who had ties with the group.[10] On 9 February 2013 charges were framed against 6 members of the group including chief coordinator Mohiuddin Ahmed.[11] In October 2014 the members of the group clashed with the police after they bought out a rally in Muhammadpur, Dhaka.[12] On 15 June 2016 Golam Faizullah Fahim, a member of the group, was arrested after trying to kill a Hindu college teacher in Madaripur. He died in custody after a “gunfight with police,”.[13] The group had promised legal aid to captured members and support to their families if they died in the terror attacks.[14] As of 2016, 650 members of the group were arrested; of whom 400 were able to secure bail. The group conducts protests outside of mosques and has a well maintained online presence.
In January 2016, six members of the group were expelled from Dhaka University.[15] The organization has been trying to recruit students from different educational institutes in Bangladesh.[16] In October 2016 Hizb ut-Tahrir asked the members of Bangladesh Army to fight against Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis.[17] A number of students and professors of North South University in Bangladesh were arrested over ties to this group and terrorist activities.[18] The government had kept an eye on the university after 7 of its students were arrested for involvement in the Murder of blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider.[19] [20] North South University is private university with about 22,000 students in Dhaka.[21] In 2015 printed material of the group was found in the Library of North South University.[22] Pro-Vice Chancellor Gias Uddin Ahsan was arrested for providing shelter to those involved in the 2016 July Dhaka Attack.[23]