Press Release

Interparty Clashes and Violence during Election Time is the Part and Parcel of Democratic Politics - the “Politics of Responsibility” can only be achieved under the Blessed System of the Khilafah (Caliphate)

On March 29, 2018, elections and by-elections for some 133 local government bodies in Bangladesh began across the country amid tight security and tension. Like all the previous national and local government elections, this election is also being marred by murder, interparty political violence, theft of ballot papers and vote rigging. And the popular political ritual of democracy - the blame game - is also in full swing where ruling party and its main adversary Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are accusing each other for all the on-going clashes and mishaps.

The typical entrenched political violence in Bangladesh, especially during the time of election, among the political parties is giving rise to the big question as to whether western-backed democracy could ever bring political stability and prosperity in Bangladesh. In the last five years only, political clashes caused 1,028 deaths and 52,000 injuries in Bangladesh (www.dhakatribune.com, 21 November 2017). Even the statement of AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader was a testimony to this democratic phenomenon in Bangladesh when he said last November that decency and tolerance are no longer present in politics, but only in posters and banners (www.thedailynewnation.com, 21 November 2017). In reality, all these violence and moral corruption in our politics are merely the symptoms of the problem, whereas the root cause is the inherently flawed idea of democratic system itself. Systemically, democracy empowers a certain class of political elites and capitalists who race to climb the ladder of power to secure their interests only, not to side with the people for their wellbeing. And the clashes and conflicts among these elite politicians of the third world democracies, which get heightened during election time, are the inevitable by-products of their survival race towards money and power.

Most importantly, we should not be under the impression that the democratic model is losing its appeal in Bangladesh only, rather the western world has also been struggling hard to stop the downfall of the popularity of this democratic system which is proved itself unable to look after the affairs of mankind effectively. Like Bangladesh, even in the world’s so-called developed democracies, such as the U.S., Japan, and France, politicians have been sold out to money thoroughly and the majority of them accused of corruption have won re-election over the last several decades. Hence it is not astonishing to know the World Bank’s 2017 World Development Report that election turnout is declining across the world due to people’s apathy and decreasing confidence in this flawed system. Electorates in the western world are becoming increasingly aware of the failure of democratic politics to bring about the equality, social and economic security, and political reform that it promises. Hence, this is not surprising to see the average global voter turnout rate dropped by more than 10% over the last 25 years (qz.com, February 01, 2017).

O Muslims in Bangladesh! The violence and corruption that you are witnessing now is indeed the consequence of ‘true democracy’; no other forms of democracy exist in the world other than the façade of ‘true democracy’ to mask the ugly nature of its ideologue and politicians, be it in Bangladesh or the western world. It is high time you questioned democracy as we should not stand anymore the arrogance and aggressive attempts of AL-BNP to expand their own powers through exploiting us. We need to get rid of this fake and fragile democracy and these colonial agents imposed on us who will fight among themselves just to make their own fortune, and the colonial west will keep on tolerating them as long as their geopolitical interests are being served.

On the other hand, the Khalifah (Caliph), governors, officials and the politicians under the blessed Khilafah (Caliphate) will base their actions on taqwa (fear of Allah) and, very unlike democracy, the Khilafah system will not keep any room for its proponents to do wanton act of self-destruction like what we are observing now in the election time. Just only the winning in the elections will not be the cornerstone of Khilafah, but rather the Khalifah will ensure that the performances of the people in responsible positions are reviewed properly with strict accountability. It has been reported that Umar (r.a.) once said to the people around him: ‘Would you say that my duty would be fulfilled if I appointed over you the best from amongst you, and ordered him to be just?’ They said; ‘Yes.’ He said; ‘No. Not until I had checked his performance, and seen whether or not he did what I had ordered him to do.’

O Muslims, Hizb ut Tahrir calls upon you, to work with it to bring the only solution to our problem, that is, the second righteous Khilafah (Caliphate) on the method of Prophethood. We urge you to strive towards the promised Khilafah which will be re-established soon by the Will of Allah, the Exalted.

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ﴾

“Oh you who believe, answer the call of Allah and the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life” [TMQ 8:24].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Wilayah Bangladesh