User talk:Md Samiul Aliam

Zaker Party
Europa 1999 reports that the Zaker Party was founded in 1989 (1999, 570), while New Straits Times states that the party was founded in 1991 to contest the 1991 election (28 June 1996). A religious party, the Zaker party is described by Europa as supporting sovereignty and the introduction of an Islamic state system (1999, 570), and by AFP as a right-wing Islamic party (1 Oct. 1997; ibid. 9 Oct. 1997). The party was reportedly launched by the Pir of Atroshi, a religious divine (New Straits Times 28 June 1996). Europa reports that the party is led by Syed Hasmatullah and Mustafa Amir Faisal (1999, 570), but Bangladeshi media sources report that the party is led by Mustafa Amir Faisal (chairman) and Nurul Kader (secretary-general) (The Nation 26 Mar. 1999; The Daily Star 5 July 1998). The party reportedly has a student front led by "internationally famous soccer player" Kaiser Hamid (The Independent 23 Sept. 1998).

The Zaker Party fielded 247 or 250 candidates in the 1991 election but failed to win a single seat (New Straits Times 28 June 1996; Virtual Bangladesh n.d.). In the 1996 elections, it fielded, 241 or 249 candidates (Radio Bangladesh 11 June 1996; ibid. 12 June 1996), and again failed to win a seat (Electoral Web Sites n.d.). The Zaker party ran under the golap (rose) symbol in 1996 (Virtual Bangladesh n.d.).

At a 2 September 1997 Dhaka press conference Zaker Party secretary-general Nurul Kader, claiming that the people of Bangladesh were frustrated with the major political parties, called on Bangladeshis to unite to establish an Islamic welfare state in Bangladesh (The Daily Star 3 Sept. 1997). Kader reportedly informed those in attendance that Bangladesh's problems could not be solved by passing laws or talking in parliament; rather "a moral revolution [was required] to establish humanism in the country" (ibid.). At a political rally in Dhaka one month later another Zaker party leader characterized the recently signed Ganges water sharing treaty with India as "anti-Bangladesh," and demanded the Awami League government scrap it (AFP 1 Oct. 1997). On 10 December 1997 The Daily Star reported that at least 30 people were injured the previous day in a clash between Zaker Party supporters and police in Dhaka. While a Zaker Party press release claimed the trouble began when Awami League supporters attacked a Zaker Party procession, according to police it started when Zaker party processionists began damaging vehicles, at which point tear gas and batons were used to break up the procession (ibid.). Secretary-General Abdul Kader was reportedly among those arrested (ibid.).

In September 1998 several sources reported that Zaker Party workers and leaders took an active role in distributing relief supplies among hundreds of flood-affected families in Dhaka and other areas (The Independent 4 Sept. 1998; ibid. 23 Sept. 1998; The Daily Star 17 Sept 1998). In mid-December 1998 the Zaker Party nominated Abdul Kabir, its Dhaka City unit president, to contest the Dhaka City Corporation mayoral election (The Independent 15 Dec. 1998).

On 13 April 1999 The Nation reported that the returning officer had cancelled the nomination papers of Monajat Ali, Zaker Party candidate in the 4 May 1999 Meherpur-1 parliamentary by-election, for defaulting on bank loans. On 24 October 1999 The Independent reported that Zaker Party Dhaka City unit president, Abdul Kabir, had accused senior Awami League leaders, including Cabinet ministers, of violating the election code of conduct in the run-up to the Faridpur-4 by-election by distributing relief supplies and other materials in the locality in a bid to influence voters.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 9 October 1997. "Bangladesh PM Allows Public Rallies in Open Spaces, Not Streets." (NEXIS)

_____. 1 October 1997. "Government Firm on Ban on Street Rallies, Opposition Stages Protest." (NEXIS)

The Daily Star [Dhaka]. 17 September 1998. "Relief Activities of Different Organizations." [Accessed 27 Oct. 1999]

_____. 5 July 1998. "Zaker Party Confce July 7." [Accessed 27 Oct. 1999]

_____. 10 December 1997. "30 Hurt as Zaker Party Supporters Clash with Police." [Accessed 27 Oct. 1999]

_____. 3 September 1997. "Big Parties Lack Tolerance: ZP." [Accessed 27 Oct. 1999]

Electoral Web Sites (Wilfried Derksen). (updated 10 Sept. 1999). "Elections in Bangladesh." [Accessed 27 Oct. 1999]

The Europa World Year Book 1999. 1999. 40th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

The Independent [Dhaka]. 24 October 1999. "AL Violating Election Code in Faridpur, Says Zaker Party." (Emerging Markets Datafile/NEXIS)

_____. 15 December 1998. "ZP Nominates Kabir to Contest Mayor Election." (Emerging Markets Datafile/NEXIS)

_____. 23 September 1998. "Relief Operation Continues." (Emerging Markets Datafile/NEXIS)

_____. 4 September 1998. "Relief Goods Distributed." (Emerging Markets Datafile/NEXIS)

The Nation [Dhaka]. 13 April 1999. "Mehurpur By-Poll: 7 Nominations Valid." [Accessed 27 Oct. 1999]

_____. 26 March 1999. "Nurul Kader Made Secy General of Zaker Party." [Accessed 27 Oct. 1999]

New Straits Times [Malaysia]. 28 June 1996. Mazlan Nordin. "Driven by the Memory of Sheikh Mujibur to Succeed." (NEXIS)

Radio Bangladesh Network [Dhaka, in English]. 12 June 1996. "Bangladesh: Voting Begins in Parliamentary Elections." (FBIS-NES-96-114  12 June 1996/WNC)

_____ [Dhaka, in Bengali]. 11 June 1996. "Bangladesh: Stage Set for Parliamentary Elections 12 June." (FBIS-NES-96-113  11 June 1996/WNC)

Virtual Bangladesh. n.d. "Politics: Elections 1991" [Accessed 27 Oct. 1999]

_____. n.d. "Politics: Election 1996 Symbols." [Accessed 27 Oct. 1999]

Additional Sources Consulted
Political Handbook of the World. 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998

Political Parties of Asia and the Pacific. 1985

Political Parties of the World. 1988

Religion in Politics. 1989

Statistical Pocketbook of Bangladesh. 1996

World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties

Electronic sources: IRB databases; LEXIS/NEXIS; WNC; Internet sites, including:

The Daily Star [Dhaka]. 1998-1999

Daily Ittefaq [Dhaka]. 1998-1999

Holiday [Dhaka]. 1998-1999

The Independent [Dhaka]. 1998-1999

News from Bangladesh [Dhaka]. 1998-1999

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Other Movements.

UK Home Office country assessments.

Virtual Bangladesh. [[User:Md Samiul Aliam | Md Samiul Aliam]] (talk) 21:25, 9 October 2023 (UTC)