In a recent statement Dr Hasan Mahmud, the Information and Broadcasting Minister of Bangladesh and Joint General Secretary of the ruling Awami League, openly criticized the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), for their silence on the Israel-Palestine issue. This statement comes at a time when Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States, Afreen Akhtar, is in Bangladesh, adding multiple layers of complexity to the situation. Further complicating matters is Dr. Mahmud’s familial ties; he is the nephew of the late Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi, a pro-caliphate and extremely Islamist leader in Bangladesh. Shafi, the founder of an extremist Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam, has been vocal against Ahmadi Muslims in Bangladesh and has been involved in several extreme incidents, including violent protests and attacks on the Ahmadis in Bangladesh. These factors collectively fuel concerns about the Awami League’s true stance on terrorism.
Dr Hasan Mahmud accused the BNP of implicitly supporting Israel by not condemning its actions against Hamas and taking the “side of Israel by keeping mum on the Palestine issue”. He stated that while he and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have “openly protested the killings” by Israel, leaders of the BNP, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, have remained conspicuously silent. This silence, according to Mahmud, implies that the BNP is in favor of Israel’s actions against innocent Palestinians and Hamas.
While the Awami League has been commended for its efforts to combat terrorism and extremism within Bangladesh, Dr. Mahmud’s statement has raised questions about the party’s own stance. The minister did not condemn Hamas’ actions against Israel, where recent attacks have resulted in the loss of hundreds of innocent lives. This omission has led to the view that the Awami League is indirectly supporting Hamas, a group widely considered to be a terrorist organization.
The timing of Dr. Mahmud’s statement is particularly significant given the current visit of Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States, Afreen Akhtar, to Bangladesh. The United States has been clear in its support for Israel, with President Joe Biden recently stating that Hamas is “worse than Al Qaeda”. This stance could potentially create friction between Bangladesh and the United States, especially considering Dr. Mahmud’s recent comments.
Adding another layer of complexity is the historical context. While Bangladesh has been vocally pro-Palestinian, it appears to have overlooked the fact that Palestine and its leaders were openly opposed to Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971. Mohammed Amin al-Husseini, a Palestinian Arab nationalist, had even called upon Muslim nations to support Pakistan during that time.
The BNP’s silence on this issue is equally puzzling. While they have been accused of siding with Israel, they have not made any statements in favor of Hamas, which has been responsible for terror attacks on Israel. This has led to speculation that the BNP is attempting to maintain a neutral stance to avoid alienating any significant groups within the country.
In light of Dr. Hasan Mahmud’s recent comments, there is increasing speculation that the Awami League may harbor undisclosed sympathies for the terror group Hamas. The party’s failure to condemn Hamas’ actions against Israel, while criticizing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for its silence on the Israel-Hamas issue, raises questions about its true stance. This ambiguity not only casts a shadow over the Awami League’s commitment to combating terrorism but also risks causing a significant diplomatic fallout between Bangladesh and Western nations, including the United States.
The diplomatic stakes are particularly high given that the United States imposed visa restrictions on Bangladesh in May. Dr. Mahmud’s statement, which appears to align with a group that the US categorizes as adversaries, could worsen the already strained relations between the two nations. In a geopolitical environment where alliances can be fragile, such a stance could prove catastrophic for the Bangladeshi government, potentially leading to further sanctions or even diplomatic isolation.
Dr. Hasan Mahmud’s recent comments have put Bangladesh’s diplomatic relations in a minefield, especially with the United States. His familial ties to extremist leaders and the Awami League’s ambiguous stance on terrorism further complicate the situation.
