The West regularly prescribes secularism to third-world countries but how do they claim a communal instigator like Adilur Rahman Khan a so-called human rights activist? How does Europe-America support the business of ‘Odhikar’ in the guise of human rights organization? This is because they may not know that ‘Odhikar’ operates as a specialized tactical wing of the communal BNP-Jamaat alliance. The main task of this organization is to tarnish the image of Bangladesh and the Awami League-led government in the international arena, simultaneously ensuring their luxurious life with the foreign fund through anti-national propaganda.
The key person behind this organization is former Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leader Adilur Rahman. He is a big fish in the BNP-Jamaat which is a patron of extremism. The BNP-Jamaat alliance appointed Adilur Rahman as the Deputy Attorney General after forming the government in 2001.
Shrewd Adilur Rahman also came up on the shortlist to become the Attorney General, the highest lawyer of the government, by satisfying BNP-Jamaat with loyalty. But his attempt went in vain following the free and fair elections of 2008 when the communal alliance was finally overthrown and the Awami League formed the government.
However, Adilur, one of the think tanks of BNP-Jamaat, got involved in anti-Awami League propaganda centring on the 2014 general elections. In a bid to thwart the trial of war criminals, he and his organization ‘Odhikar’ played an active role in spreading communal incitement across the country on behalf of BNP-Jamaat in 2013.
With the funding of BNP-Jamaat, extremist leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam carried out vandalism, arson, deforestation and attacks in different areas of Dhaka city on May 5, 2013. But the law enforcement agencies foiled the unconstitutional attempt to overthrow the government.
As the conspiracy to seize state power through terrorism failed, they started hatching new conspiracies. This time Adilur and his organization ‘Odhikar’ came out publicly. They started info-terrorism to instigate religious violence among the majority of Muslims in the country and to tarnish the image of Bangladesh internationally. They started spreading rumours that hundreds of Hefazat activists were killed and disappeared in the country. They even used old photos of different events on the internet.
The BNP-Jamaat used the false information and fabricated reports to carry out communal incitement inside the country for weeks and thus making the country turbulent. On the other hand, Adilur Rahman continued his lobbying to manage the international community through the non-governmental organization ‘Odhikar’ by preparing and circulating the fabricated reports.
However, mainstream media investigations later have revealed that those who are ‘dead’ according to Adilur’s list are still working in their respective madrasas. As a result, the info-terrorism and activities of the private organization ‘Odhikar’ as a paid agent of BNP-Jamaat came to light. Adilur was later arrested on charges of inciting communal violence and tarnishing the image of the state. After searching the office of ‘Odhikar’, the law enforcement agencies found information and evidence of many crimes of Adilur Rahman. Adilur was released on bail after two months. He later went to Malaysia in 2017 but was sent back to Bangladesh on suspicion of being involved in suspicious activities.
But the BNP-Jamaat gang tried to spread rumours that Malaysian police arrested Adilur for a diplomatic move by the Bangladesh government. Thus, Adilur is helping the BNP-Jamaat to achieve its political goals, and in exchange, the BNP-Jamaat clique is providing regular funds and guidance for Adilur’s ‘human rights business’ in the guise of a human rights organization.