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| Formation | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Bangladesh |
Bangladesh Awami Olama League is a religious organization of Bangladesh that claims affiliation with Bangladesh Awami League. [1] [2] Although the Bangladesh Awami League denies [3] any relationship, critics argue it uses platforms such as the Olama League for its own political benefits. [4] [5]
The Awami Olama League was officially founded in 1996 on the directives of the Awami League president and later prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. [2] Awami League officially denies involvement with it, although members maintain close ties with Awami League decision makers. [2] [4] Analysts argue that this gives the Awami League an "Islamic label" and serves as a "pocket organization" rather than a source of opposition. [5]
The organization is currently divided into several factions, one led by Ismail Hossain Bin Helali, another led by Abdul Hasan Sheikh Shariatpuri, who are also rival Sufi groups. [2] They accuse each other of being "agents" of Jamaat-e-Islami and being "illiterate". [2] The two factions have often clashed violently and repeatedly. [6]
In 2016, the organization demanded a stop to government funding of Pahela Baishakh and a ban on airing of Indian channels in Bangladesh. [1]
In 2017, Olama League demanded removal of the placement of a statue of the Greek goddess of justice from the premises of the Supreme Court. [7] [8]