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Islami Andolan Bangladesh (Bengali: ইসলামী আন্দোলন বাংলাদেশ, lit. 'Islamic Movement of Bangladesh'), abbreviated as IAB, is a major Deobandi Islamist political party in Bangladesh.[1] It was founded in 1987 by Fazlul Karim as Islami Shashontantra Andolan (Islamic Constitutional Movement), and took its current name in 2008.[2] The party maintains distance from both of the dominant parties in Bangladesh, Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party. In the recent years, the party has gradually done well in the local government elections. The number of votes of the party has increased also in the national polls.[3]
Islami Andolan Bangladesh ইসলামী আন্দোলন বাংলাদেশ | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | IAB Islami Andolan |
| President | Syed Rezaul Karim |
| Secretary-General | Yunus Ahmad |
| Founder | Syed Fazlul Karim |
| Founded | 13 March 1987 |
| Headquarters | 55/B, Purana Paltan, Dhaka |
| Student wing | Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh |
| Youth wing | Islami Jubo Andolan Bangladesh |
| Trade union | Islami Sramik Andolan Bangladesh |
| Ideology | Deobandism Islamism Islamic fundamentalism Islamic democracy |
| Political position | Right-wing to far-right |
| Religion | Islam |
| Colors | Green (official) Golden (customary) |
| Slogan | "Motto of freedom, Islamic constitutionalism" (মুক্তির মূলমন্ত্র, ইসলামী শাসনতন্ত্র) |
| MPs in Jatiya Sangsad | Parliament dissolved |
| Mayors in City Corporations | 0 / 1 |
| Councillors in City Corporations | Post dissolved |
| Chairmen in Subdistrict Councils | Post dissolved |
| Chairmen in Union Councils | Post dissolved |
| Website | |
| islamiandolanbd | |
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Syed Fazlul Karim, pir of Charmanai, established the party on 13 March 1987. He set up organisational units in all the 64 districts. Since then, unlike other Islamist parties, IAB has been mobilizing its organisational capacity across the country.[4]
Religious
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The Party protested against the government of Bangladesh allowing a women's football tournament in October 2004 and called it "disgrace to women".[5]
The party has campaigned in favour of a blasphemy law and organised rallies in support for a restoration of the caretaker government of Bangladesh,[6] as well as demanding punishment of former government minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui for his comments criticizing Hajj and Muhammad.[7]
It has submitted a memorandum to the United Nations demanding an end to the violence in Rakhine state of Myanmar.[8] Prior to departing Baitul Mukarram, party leaders Mufti Syed Rezaul Karim had delivered speeches condemning the atrocities against the Rohingya in Myanmar.[8] In 2019, hundreds of activists of Islami Andolan Bangladesh gathered at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Jumah prayers and demonstrated in Dhaka's Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area on Friday, protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in India. They chanted slogan: "No CAB, no NRC, and stop torturing Muslims in India! Where is humanity?"[9]
IAB announced to lay siege to the Prime Minister's Office on 25 April 2017 demanding arrest of "atheist bloggers who insulted Islam" and to pass law for punishing those who "insulted Islam in the parliament".[10]
The party was more outspoken than any other party during the 2024 Bangladesh textbook tearing controversy, it called for a boycott of Aarong and BRAC university as part of the anti-transformation protest.[11][12]
Political
It has rejected proposals of both Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party regarding the election-time government, saying the proposals are defective and cannot resolve the ongoing political crisis. It urged the government to dissolve the parliament and hand over the power to a neutral caretaker government for holding a credible election.[13] Terming the recently-held local government polls unfair, IAB Amir Sayed Rezaul Karim said, "People could have seen the genuine face of the party's popularity had there been fair polls." Commenting on politics of ballot, the IAB Amir said, "People want freedom from the incumbent oppressive and autocratic ruler. In their frantic search for a peaceful society, the people are not being able to find out any alternative solution. That's why they are stretching their hands to an Islamist party like us. They are joining the islamist movement by growing day by day. People are showing more interest to IAB as they found no alternative."[4]
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In the 2018 Bangladesh general elections, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) has bagged the third highest number of votes, following Awami League-led Grand Alliance and BNP-led Jatiya Oikya Front.[14]
IAB's performances in several city corporation polls held recently show a sharp rise in number of votes bagged by the party candidates. In the 2023 Khulna City Corporation election, the party candidate got more votes than Jatiya Party (Ershad), the sitting opposition in the parliament, securing third position with 14,363 votes while JaPa's runner got 1,500 votes. IAB also secured the third-highest number of ballots in 2020 Dhaka South City Corporation election and 2020 Dhaka North City Corporation election, 2022 Narayanganj City Corporation election, and 2022 Rangpur City Corporation election.[4]
Jatiya Sangsad elections
| Election | Party leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1996 | Syed Fazlul Karim | 11,159 | 0.03% | 0 / 300 |
New |  19th |
Extra-parliamentary |
| 2001 | 5,944 | 0.01% | 0 / 300 |
 0 |
17th |
Extra-parliamentary | |
| 2008 | Syed Rezaul Karim | 658,254 | 0.94% | 0 / 300 |
0 |
5th |
Extra-parliamentary |
| 2014 | Boycotted | 0 / 300 |
0 |
— | Extra-parliamentary | ||
| 2018 | 1,255,373 | 1.47% | 0 / 300 |
0 |
4th |
Extra-parliamentary | |
| 2024 | Boycotted | 0 / 300 |
0 |
— | Extra-parliamentary | ||
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Secretary-General
Yunus Ahmad (born 16 July 1957) is serving as the secretary general of Islami Andolan Bangladesh.[15] He was born on July 16, 1957, in Maishaghuni village of Khulna district. His father Muslim Uddin and mother Sakina. His education start from JBM Primary School. He then passed secondary school from Belfulia High School. In 1973 he was admitted to Khulna City College. In 1974 he passed his HSC from Khulna Bangabandhu Degree College and moved to Jamia Rashidiya Islamia Charmonai and started memorizing Quran. After completing the memorization of Quran under the supervision of Hafez Nuruzzaman, he passed Dakhil from Anandnagar Nesaria Madrasa in 1981, Alim from Jugihati Aminya Madrasa in 1983, Fazil in 1985 and Kamil from Khulna Alia in 1987. He started practicing tasawwuf by taking bay'at from Syed Fazlul Karim. On November 17, 1998, he received the caliphate from him.[16] His career began at JBM Hafizia Madrasa. Later he taught for some time at Deyara Hafizia Madrasah. In 1996, he took charge of the Principal of Jamia Rashidiya Goalkhali Adarsh Cadet Scheme Madrasah. He was in charge till 2002. Currently, he is teaching Hadith in Dhaka Kadmatli Jamia Islamia Fazlul Uloom Madrasa.[16] He joined Muhammadullah Hafezzi's repentance politics in 1981 at the suggestion of Syed Fazlul Karim. He served as the general secretary of the Bangladesh Mujahid Committee, Khulna district branch. He was associated with the Islami Andolan Bangladesh since its inception. In 2008, he was elected as the general secretary of this party.[16]
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