Delwar Hossain Sayeedi

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Delwar Hossain Sayeedi
Deputy Leader of Bangladesh Jammat-e-Islami
Member of Parliament for Pirojpur-1
In office June 12, 1996 – December 29, 2008
Preceded by	Shudangsu Shekhor Halder
Succeeded by	AKMA Awal (Saidur Rahman)
Majority	33,377 (17.36%)
Personal details
Born	February 2, 1940 (age 71) Pirojpur, Bangladesh
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Political party	Jamaat-e-Islami
Alma mater	Islamic University Karachi
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Islamic orator
Religion	Sunni Islam

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi (Bengali: দেলওয়ার হোসেন সাঈদী, pronounced Delowar Hossein Saeedi; born 2 February 1942), is a Bangladeshi Islamic orator and politician. He was a former Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2008, and is one of the most prominent leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party.

 Background

Delwar Sayeedi was born February 2, 1940, in a village located in Indurkani, Pirojpur (Barisal Division). His father, Yusuf Sayedee was an Islamic orater. He received his first primary religious education at his local village madrassa which was built by his father.^[1]
Later in life he studied further on Islamic education by attending, the Sarsina Alia Madrasah in 1962, and then the Khulna Alia Madrasah.^[1] He completed his religious education at the Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia (Binoria Town Madrassa) in Karachi, Pakistan. Sayeedi after completing his religious studies then focused on studying politics. He is fluent in Urdu, Bengali, Arabic, Punjabi and has basic knowledge of English.

Political career

Sayeedi was a leader and Rajshahi University Unit President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.^[2]
He became a prominent leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a Member of Parliament in the Jatiyo Sangshad representing Jamaat, for the constituency of Pirojpur-1.
Sayeedi is one a prominent religious telepreachers in Bangladesh, and has held talks and tafseer's across the country.

Foreign travel

In July 2006 Sayeedi travelled to the UK to address rallies in London and Luton after the foreign office cleared his entry.^[8] His entry was controversial with British MP's. In leaked emails reported by The Times, an adviser, Eric Taylor said that Sayeedi’s "previous visits to the UK have been reportedly marred by violence caused by his supporters."^[9] On 13 July 2006, a British journalist Martin Bright created a documentary called Who Speaks For Muslims? where it features Sayeedi, claiming to have extreme views.^[10] Sayeedi has a large following within the British Bangladeshi community, he was invited to speak at the East London Mosque on 14 July 2006, the then secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Muhammad Abdul Bari supported his invite.^[11]
On July 24, 2009, Sayeedi was prevented from going abroad by the immigration officials at Zia International Airport. Later, he Challenged the Government's restriction on his foreign travel by filing a writ petition with the High Court on July 27. The Attorney General stated before the Chamber Judge that Maulana Sayeedi was against the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 and argued that if Sayeedi is not barred to go abroad he might conduct propaganda against government moves to sue war criminals.^[12]

Accusations of Extremism

Sayeedi proclaimed that Courts won’t be allowed to control Fatwas (religious edicts), instead Fatwas would control the Court.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag; see the help page
Sayeedi threatened the local correspondents (in Pirojpur) of the leading newspapers and asked them to leave Pirojpur as they wrote about Sayeedi’s role in 1971.^[13]
By announcing the blasphemy law, he asked the government to ban the book Pak Sar Jameen Saad Baad written by eminent writer and Professor (at University of Dhaka) Humayun Azad. His call to ban the book was followed by a brutal attack on the professor by a group of young men.^[14]

Apprehension

Police arrested Mr. Sayeedi on June 29, 2010 after a magistrate court issued arrest warrants against him including three other political leaders as they did not appear before the court to face a charge accusing them of hurting religious sentiments of Muslims. The case was filed by Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, secretary general of Bangladesh Tariqat Federation On March 21, 2010.^[15][16]

 

Most popular Islamic scholar of Bangladesh victim of politically

Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, senior leader from Bangladesh’s largest Islamic party has been charged with war crimes for allegedly leading groups that took part in killing, looting, arson and rape of Bangladeshis during the country’s 1971 independence war against Pakistan. Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan that year – with help from India – after a nine-month war. A special tribunal has been up by the Bangladesh government to deal with charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from the war. The tribunal accepted 20 of 31 charges filed by the prosecution against Delwar Hossain Sayeedi of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, including those that he aided Pakistan. Bangladesh says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed an estimated 3 million people, raped about 200,000 women and forced millions to flee their homes during the war. Sayeedi is accused of being involved in the killing of more than 50 people, torching villages, rape, looting and forcibly converting Hindus to Islam. He has denied the allegations. Mr Sayedee is among seven people, including two from the main opposition Bangladeshi Nationalist Party, facing trial. All of them deny the accusations and accuse the government of carrying out a vendetta. The party says the charges against its leaders are politically motivated. Jamaat-e-Islami was a key partner in the 2001-2006 government headed by Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister and current opposition leader. Zia, the longtime political rival of the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has called the tribunal a farce. The international community has called on the Bangladesh government to ensure that the tribunal is free and impartial. Human Rights bodies critical about the law: New York-based Human Rights Watch has called for changes to the tribunal, including allowing the accused to question its impartiality, which current law prohibits. Human Rights Watch says the tribunal needs to change some of its procedures to ensure a fair trial which meets international standards. “It’s politically motivated case. It aims at tarnishing the image of my client,” said Sayedee’s lawyer Tajul Islam. The lawyer of Maulana Delawar Hossain Sayeedi argued in the tribunal not to form charge against his client as the charges of war crime against his client is not specific. The prosecution of the tribunal could not make any specific charge of war crime against Sayeedi. Claiming this he said “Though a lot of stories has been stated but are not specified when and where these occurred”. Strangely there is no specific evidence against Sayedee of being relevant with these stories of Pirojpur.   There is no mention in the charge sheet that who is killed by him, where, in which date and time, and what was his role in the assassination during the Liberation War of 1971.   The Govt. has urged only that Maulana Sayeedi has killed 40 people somewhere once in a day during the war. In reply of this urge of the Govt., the lawyers said more that on the basis of this type of imaginary and rootless charge sheet the arrangement of such trial against any prisoner is beyond example.   As per defence lawyer, there are so many weakness and incompleteness in to the International Crime Law.  The trial is being performed without defining Crime.   ‘Crime’ is not defined in this law: ‘Crime’ is not defined in this law. Trial cannot be performed without defining Crime referred to various International Criminal Court Laws and the decisions regarding this.   Bangladesh Supreme court has some positive decisions to accept International Laws if they are relevant with Bangladesh.   It is mentioned in the Article 25 of the Constitution of Bangladesh that the base of international relation will be to respect the principles mentioned in the international laws and United Nations contacts. So, Bangladesh should enrich laws picking from international laws where law is incomplete or weak.   Practically there is no legal base of the charge against Mr. Sayeedi. There is no mention of his crime in the charge sheet in any occurrence.   It is said that rape has been occurred, but not said to whom and when it has been conducted. It is said that property has been destroyed but not said about quantity.   No logical information regarding killings is mentioned in specific charges.   No trial may be conducted if there is no mention of the name and address of the victim and specific mention of time.   Charge has been formed from the speeches of the ruling alliance witnesses: According to Syed Haider, one of the tribunal prosecutor charge has been formed from the speeches of the witnesses. We have mentioned what they have said. After all these things, if crime is not proven we have nothing to do. Nothing is mentioned specifically about the name of the place of crime. The charge mentioned only the name of the village, but no mention under which union or thana.   Interestingly the charge mentioned that Mr. Sayeedi has killed that person in any day between March 25 to Dec. 16, 1971. How it comes? You didn’t mention time specifically.”   The explanation of Govt. prosecutor in this regarding during tribunal hearing is that, “the man who was killed then could tell specifically that I died on that day.’ He argued that,” After passing so many days it is not possible to mention more specific time. Setting example he said, “A wife has been raped in front of his husband or a son has been killed in front of his mother … Can that husband or the mother remember the time of occurrence?”   Then he added, “You may accept the evidence, may accept or reject it partially or may reject it totally – that’s after you. But we have tried to prove the crime.”   Profile: Moulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee: Moulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee is a devoted soul whose only struggle is to disseminate the light of the Quran all over the world including his birth land Bangladesh. Allah (SWT) has made him blessed bestowing multifaceted genius upon him. He is in one and the same person who is an artful orator, popular leader and organizer. Maulana Sayedee was one of Deputy Leaders of Jamaat Parliamentary Party and a member of the Central Executive Committee of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.   Moulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee was born in Pirojpur on 2 Februry 1940. The name of his father is Maulana Yusuf Sayedee who was a very familiar name in the northern region as a good orator and ‘pir’ (saint). He completed his primary education at the Madrasah in his native village built by his father.   Afterwards, he studied in Sarsina Alia Madrasah and Khulna Alia Madrasah. In 1962 he did Kamil degree from Sarsina Alia Madrasah. After that he devoted himself to research on various doctrines and language including religion, philosophy, science, politics, economy, state policy, foreign policy, psychology for five years.   Maulana Sayedee started his chequred life as a “Dayee Ila Allah” (caller to the way of Allah) in 1967. He has been disseminating the Dawah of Quran at home and abroad. He is a dauntless soldier in the way of Allah. He never retreated in the face of the enemy’s severe attack while preaching the message of the Quran. During the Mujib regime Maulana Sayedee was arrested and sent to jail in 1975. Under went imprisonment until the Mujib dynasty was collapsed.   Maulna Sayedee has widely traveled different foreign countries across the world every year. Till now he traveled 50 foreign countries at the invitation of different international organizations. Maulana Sayeedee performed hajj (Pilgrimage) almost every year since 1976. He performed Hajj twice at the invitation of royal guest Saudi Arabia govt.   Maulana Sayedee is a prolific writer too. He composed so far 30 books. His two books have been translated from England and America. Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee is a popular leader. He was elected as a member of parliament (MP) from his Pirojpur Sadar constituency twice 1996 and 2001 respectively. In 1996 parliamentary election, he was elected as an MP and became the leader of Jamaat Parliamentary group. He then played stronger role with three members of parliament. He was alone who fought the then ruling party Awami league MP and defeated them by his eloquent, informative and rescannable speech. So the then ruling party tried to harass him to stooping microphone or intimidating him in different ways. But he was fearless and uncompromising. He was elected as an MP from his constancy Pirojpur sadar by garnering massive vote on 1st October 2001.   Despite his engagement in Tafsir  mahfil at home and abroad he is actively involved in organizational work. He is now Nayebe Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.   Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee is actively associated with innumerable social welfare organizations. He is one of adviser of Rubitat Alam Al Islami. He is a founder member of Shariah council of Islamic bank Bangladesh Ltd. And is an adviser of Islami University trustee board, Chittagong. He is the chairman of Jamia Dinniya Tongi, Dhaka, Jamia Kasemia, Narshingdi, Darul Quran Siddiquia Alia Madrasah, Khulna, Darul Haman Shishu Sadan, Narshingdi and SB Madinatul Ulam Madrasah, Pirojpur. He is advisor, Patron and chief patron of good number of organizations at home and abroad. He is the life member of Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh.   Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee is a respected person. He is one of the most popular leaders in Islamic arena. Till now six hundred non-Muslim embraced Islam shortly after listening to his epoch making Tafsir.