Should a Mafia Don Lead World Muslims? Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury’s Nomination to Head the OIC

By Dr. A. Momen

While the world is increasingly demanding the punishment of war criminals and murderers, the Bangladesh government has nominated an alleged murderer and war criminal as the next Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). This has caused an uproar in Bangladeshi society and divided the nation. All the major opposition political parties of Bangladesh, irrespective of ideology, have demanded that the government withdraw the nomination of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury (SQC), a political advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and a known gangster. Even some members of the ruling party have been critical of the nomination.

Having been reportedly involved in organized crime over the last 32 years, it is highly unlikely that Chowdhury will become an angel overnight when he takes over the OIC’s helm.

Bangladeshis Oppose the Nomination

All the leading dailies of Bangladesh initially published reports on Chowdhury’s criminal record and links. But in a bid to curb negative publicity, the government threatened the editors of three leading dailies, the Daily Star, the Prothom Alo and the Janakantha, with harassment and arrest warrants. But such intimidation did not cow down everyone. In addition to an article published here in Muslim WakeUp! last month, nearly 300 Bangladeshi intellectuals, professors, engineers, doctors, lawyers and other professionals living across all the five continents submitted an international appeal to the Foreign Ministers of OIC countries to dump Chowdhury’s candidacy.

The signatories argued that in the current anti-Muslim atmosphere, the selection of a reputed war criminal and godfather accused of crimes ranging from arms smuggling and kidnapping to election fraud and cold-blooded murders to head the OIC will only add fuel to the fire and cause even more harm to Muslims worldwide.

Bangladeshi newspapers are replete with well-documented stories of murder, kidnapping, and illegal arms and drugs smuggling cases against Chowdhury. For example, in the murder case of Nathun Chandra Shaha, case # FIR U/S/302/129 (13)/298/BPC, Chowdhury and his associates were found guilty. However, he escaped punishment as he was absconding at the time.

It is no wonder that newspapers from across the political spectrum opposed his nomination. The Shaptahik 2000 in its headlined an editorial opposing Chowdhury’s selection, “Coalition government put image of the country under threat by nominating a despised politician like SQC” [June 13, 2003].

Here is a selection of other headlines:
“Nomination of SQC is a disgrace to Bangladesh” [The Daily Janakantha; June 4, 2003]

“11 Parties Demand Cancellation of SQC’s Nomination” [The Daily Juganthar; June 3, 2003].

“AL urge the government to drop SQC’s nomination” [The Daily Star; June 2, 2003]. (The AL is the largest party in the country.)

OIC Nominee Not a New Criminal

Two years ago, in 2001, before his nomination to the OIC, there had been frequent unflattering accounts on Chowdhury in the Bangladeshi press. On May 30, 2001, The Daily Star reported Chowdhury’s detention and subsequent seizure of weapons from his residence in the aftermath of the murder a student leader. The Daily Purbokone reported “BNPs’ Student Front leader Shot Dead, SQC Detained, Killer Weapon Seized from His Goods-Hill Residence” [May 30, 2001]. The Daily Ajker Kagaj headlined “14 cases including 5 murder cases against SQC” [June 1, 2001]. In another headline, it stated “SQC’s Goods-Hill Residence: A Hill of Horror, Slaughtering Field” [June 1, 2001]. “Nitol was Killed After He Refused to Join SQC's Group in Exchange for Half Million Taka” reports the Daily Ajker Kagaj [May 30, 2001]. "BNP's Student Leader Killed by Bullet Shot from SQC's Residence: SQC Arrested, Huge Arms Recovered” headlined the Daily Janakantha [May 30, 2001]. "SQC and 13 Others Arrested on Charge of Murder” reports the Daily Azadee [May 30, 2001]. "SQC and His 6 Accomplices Arrested When Trying to Flee After Killing” writes the Daily Bhorer Kagaj [May 30, 2001].

In fact, between September 1, 2001 and November 20, 2001, at least 23 cases were filed against Chowdhury in just one police station in his hometown (see graphic). None of these cases have been dismissed. However, the Khaleda Zia government has frozen them temporarily since Chowdhury is now a parliamentary advisor to the Prime Minister with the rank of a cabinet minister.

Chowdhury’s name also came up in 2002. For example, "Top Terrorist Bachaiya Disclosed Arms Connection: Named SQC as Godfather” reports the Daily Azadee on November 28, 2002. "New AK-47 Recovered from Raozan, Top Terrorist Bachaiya Says He Carried Out Orders of SQC in Committing Crimes” reports the Daily Bhorer Kagaj on November 28, 2002.

But his role in the 1971 massacres was even more sinister. The Dainik Bangla, another leading daily, wrote on January 8, 1972, “SQC and his father used to pick up and bring hundreds of young men to their Goods Hill Bungalow in Chittagong and torture them brutally.” In his book, “Chronicle of Bengalis’ Freedom Fight,” Mahbub-ul-Alam records in detail how SQC was involved in killing innocent people in 1971. In another book titled “The Killing Fields and Torture Center of Chittagong,” researcher Shakawath Hussain Monju reveals how the SQC’s residence at Goods-Hill was a center of torture in 1971. In it, he tells stories of liberation fighters being hung from the ceiling and beaten to death. The National People’s Investigation Commission also declared Chowdhury a “war criminal.”

Should the Muslim World Leave It Up to Bangladesh?

If the leaders of the 57-member OIC leave Chowdhury’s case to the nominating government and turn a blind eye to his character, it would be a huge blunder. If 1% of the allegations that were made against Chowdhury were true, it would greatly weaken his credibility and effectiveness as the OIC’s top boss. Unless the Muslim leaders clean out their own backyard, they will lose any sense of high moral ground and further disgrace the OIC.

Muslim countries have an obligation to ask the nominating government to drop the candidacy of this alleged criminal.

OIC Needs Dynamic Leadership

Last year, it was reportedly agreed in principle that the next OIC Secretary General would be from Bangladesh, the 3rd largest Muslim country. Bangladesh has many decent and respectable candidates that can lead the OIC. But if the current government fails to present a decent and a dynamic candidate, the other OIC members should come forward for the sake of the Muslim ummah and propose new candidates that can command international respect and support at this critical time. It is time for the Muslim leadership to wake-up. Mere dua on Friday prayers for the welfare of the ummah is not enough to change the future of Muslims--among the poorest groupings in the world with ever-rising unemployment, instability, hatred and frustration.

The 57-member OIC boasts a total population of nearly 1.4 billion, five times more of the U.S. However, their combined GDP ($3.5 trillion) is just over one–third of that of the U.S. ($9.6 trillion) despite possessing many critical resources. The per capita income of OIC member countries is very low--around $2,700 per annum compared to $35,000 for the U.S.

Under these circumstances, it is time for the OIC to take proactive and mature steps under the leadership of a dynamic individual. Otherwise, the member countries will only lament and curse their own fate in no time. Remember, God helps those who help themselves.

Dr. A. Momen is a professor of economics and business management.

For more on the Chowdhury nomination, also see War Criminal to Head Islamic Conference? Bangladeshis Oppose Chowdhury Nomination