US Congress bill urges BD to stop radical religious organizations

A bill placed in the US Congress have urged Bangladesh to stop radical religious organisations that pose a threat to stability and democracy and to protect minorities.

The title of the bill is ‘Expressing concern about the threat posed to democracy and the democratic process by theocratic groups operating in Bangladesh’.

The House of Representatives has referred the Bill to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The move comes ahead of the Dec 30 parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.

The bill, placed in the congress on November 20, was sponsored by Congressman Jim Banks (Republican – Indiana) and co-sponsored by Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (Democrat – Hawaii).

The bill has termed Hifazat-e Islam and the Jamaat-e-Islami as ‘theocratic extremist groups’ that pose a threat to democracy and religious minorities.

The bill also called upon the US government and agencies to terminate all partnerships and funding deals with the Jamaat, its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Chattogram-based Hifazat.

The Bill states that Jamaat activists have also attacked religious minorities in the country more recently.

It also takes aim at Hifazat, calling it an extremist group that is “attempting to fundamentally transform Bangladesh from a secular democracy to a totalitarian theocracy”.