Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz is quoted in a report in Aljazeera English on Islamist politics in Bangladesh.
He commented on the recent resignation of a leader from the largest Islamist party, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). Barrister Abdur Razzaq, a senior leader, left the JI after repeated calls to reform the party to adapt itself to changing global politics.
He also called upon the JI leadership to apologize for its role during the 1971 Bangladesh independence war. The JI was opposed to the independence of Bangladesh. Riaz said that Razzaq’s resignation will have far reaching impacts on the organization.
Riaz said, “I won’t be surprised if grassroots activists of the Jamaat now explore the possibility of the dissolution of the party seriously.” He also said that an apology from the JI is long overdue.
Riaz was also interviewed by the BBC World Service Bengali on the implications of the reform efforts of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI).
Riaz underscored that the reform question entails not only organizational changes but also a significant shift in its ideological stance. Referring to various Islamist ideologues, Riaz said that any ideological reform for the JI will require moving away the political thoughts of Abul Ala Mawdudi, the founder of the JI.
