Stop Jamaat, Shibir, Hefajat, says US Congressman

United States Congressman Jim Banks has placed a resolution in the House of Representatives expressing concern about the threat posed to democracy and the democratic process by theocratic groups operating in Bangladesh.

The resolution, placed on November 20, also called on the government of Bangladesh to stop radical organizations, such as Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Hefajat-e-Islam, who pose an ongoing threat to the country's stability and secular democracy. The resolution submitted by Banks was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. On January 3, 2017, Congressman Banks began representing Indiana's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Banks currently serves on the House Armed Services; Veterans Affairs; and Education and the Workforce Committees. The resolution called on the United States Agency for International Development and the State Department to halt all partnerships and funding arrangements with groups affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Hefajat-e-Islam.

It called on the government of Bangladesh to heed the Bangladesh Election Commission's request to ensure security for minorities and maintain communal harmony for a peaceful election. The national election in Bangladesh will be held on December 30. The resolution acknowledged the victims of the 1971 War of Independence and the spirit of secular democracy on which Bangladesh was founded.

It mentioned that Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 and established a secular democratic state, which is home to over 163,000,000 Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and atheists.

The freedom was won at the cost of approximately 3,000,000 deaths, more than 10,000,000 displaced, and 200,000 women raped, many at the hands of Islamist militants led by Jamaat-e-Islami, the resolution reads.

Stop Jamaat, Shibir, Hefajat, says US Congressman

United States Congressman Jim Banks has placed a resolution in the House of Representatives expressing concern about the threat posed to democracy and the democratic process by theocratic groups operating in Bangladesh. The resolution, placed on November 20, also called on the government of Bangladesh to stop radical organizations, such as Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Hefajat-e-Islam, who pose an ongoing threat to the countrys stability and secular democracy. The resolution submitted by Banks was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. On January 3, 2017, Congressman Banks began representing Indianas Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Banks currently serves on the House Armed Services; Veterans Affairs; and Education and the Workforce Committees. The resolution called on the United States Agency for International Development and the State Department to halt all partnerships and funding arrangements with groups affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Hefajat-e-Islam. It called on the government of Bangladesh to heed the Bangladesh Election Commissions request to ensure security for minorities and maintain communal harmony for a peaceful election. The national election in Bangladesh will be held on December 30. The resolution acknowledged the victims of the 1971 War of Independence and the spirit of secular democracy on which Bangladesh was founded. It mentioned that Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 and established a secular democratic state, which is home to over 163,000,000 Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and atheists. The freedom was won at the cost of approximately 3,000,000 deaths, more than 10,000,000 displaced, and 200,000 women raped, many at the hands of Islamist militants led by Jamaat-e-Islami, the resolution reads.