Banning of Olama League demanded

Jongibad o Samprodaikota Protirodh Morcha, a platform against communalism and militancy, yesterday urged the government to ban Bangladesh Awami Olama League.

They also called upon "pro-liberation forces to resist such communal and militant organisations, which oppose the culture and tradition of the nation."

At a press conference in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University, the platform's convener Abed Khan asked why police took action against opposition parties but allowed people who were opposed to the country on the streets.

The Morcha organised the event protesting Olama League's demand to ban Pahela Baishakh celebrations, terming the Bangla New Year festival "haram" (forbidden in Islam).

It also urged the government to cancel the festival bonus for Pahela Baishakh, saying the allowance should be provided to Muslims on the occasion of Eid-e-Miladunnabi.

The organisation went as far as to demand resignation of the chief justice, saying, "A Hindu chief justice in a country where 98 percent of people are Muslims is an assault on the sentiment of religious Muslims."

Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, co-coordinator of the Morcha, said if two ministers could be penalised for "contempt of court" then why the judiciary was not taking any step against the Olama League for insulting the chief justice.

The speakers cautioned people against thinking that Olama League was associated with the ruling Awami League just because the two names share a word.

The Olama League claims to be an AL-affiliated organisation and has been using a floor of the AL central office on Bangabandhu Avenue for many years. Reacting to Olama League's demand, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad issued a press statement yesterday calling upon the people to unite against those who were trying to "strangle" the cultural diversity.