Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Islami Chhatra Shibir/ Jamaat-e-Islami (Bangladesh)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 179
Country: Bangladesh
Date formed: Oct. 10, 2001
    Accuracy of date formed: day
Details of Formation: The Islami Chhatra Shibir was formed on 6th February 1977 at the Dhaka University central mosque (Wikipedia). It became a PGM in 2001 when Jamaat-e-Islami became part of the ruling coalition.
Date dissolved: Oct. 29, 2006
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: In 2006, Jamaat-e-Islami stopped being part of the ruling coalition. The Islami Chhatra Shibir continued to exist and in 2013 was estimated to be one of the most active non-state armed groups worldwide, despite previous crackdowns by the ruling Awami League (Wikipedia).
Termination Type(s): change in government

Former and Successor Group Information

Predecessor group(s): none
Successor group(s): none
Private Military Company? no
Former Group? yes
    Former Armed Group? yes
Former Rebel Group? no
    Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: none
PGM Becomes Rebel Group? no
    Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: none

Government Relation, Support, and Training

Government Relation: informal (type 1)
Created by the Government?: no
    Main Creating Government Institution: none
Government Link(s): political party
    If link to party, name of party: Jamaat-e-Islami
Training and Equipment: no information
Shared Information and Joint Operations: no information
Shared Personnel: unclear
Type(s) of Material Support: no information
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: religious; party activists; students
Primary Membership: political
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Dhaka, Chittagong, Feni, Jessore, Moulvibazar
Force Strength: [unknown, unknown]
Target(s): unarmed political opposition, government critics; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; ethnic group; religious group; journalists; students
Purpose(s): protect state, national or religious institutions; intimidation of ethnic/religious groups

Ethnic Characteristics

Ethnic Target(s): Bengali Hindus (Bangladesh)
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: given
Ethnic Membership: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: not applicable
Ethnic Purpose: Bengali Hindus (Bangladesh)
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: given

Other Information

Other Information: The Islami Chhatra Shibir was a major student organisation at many colleges and universities (Wikipedia).

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The group was widely used by the Jamaat-e-Islami party for political purposes against opponents and became the main source of the pro-army paramilitary body Al Badr.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: In 2002 the group was allegedly involved in a bomb attack against cinemas. The government then asserted that the Islamist groups were not involved but that the opposition was the culprit, although investigation had not yet taken place (Amnesty International 2006). The group is also known for cutting rival political party members’ tendons (Wikipedia). News sources report violence against journalists, ethnic cleansing and beating of opposition students.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: killing; beating

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no information
PGM Members Paid? no
Reasons for Membership:
PGM Members Killed? rarely

PGM Size

Size:

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: The group used guns.

Organisation

Organisation: The Islami Chhatra Shibir is the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami party (Wikipedia).

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Amnesty International. 2006. “Bangladesh. Briefing to political parties for a human rights agenda.” AI Index: ASA 13/012/2006. October.

Wikipedia. “Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bangladesh_Islami_Chhatra_Shibir&oldid=741400990

Evidence