Oh Brave, Aware and Sincere Youths! The Current State System is Beyond Reform! To Change this System Radically, Join the Movement to Re-establish the Khilafah Rashidah
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You are now passing through very insecure and harrowing times because of high unemployment rates, gross mismanagement in the transport and education sectors, and being made target of the government’s so-called ‘war on terror’ (actually, war on Islam), as well as the cruel repressions carried upon you by the ruling class. You have been striving hard to liberate yourselves from this miserable condition and you have shaken the throne of the rulers through your movement and struggle for your rights and your demands for the reform of the state system. Your movements have stricken fear into the hearts of the current ruling class, who are attempting to suppress you through devious means – such as, false promises, fear and repression.
The current government has tried to deceive you by presenting itself as a “youth friendly” government. In October 2018, Sheikh Hasina directly appealed to the youth to vote in the general elections and made lofty promises; “I can tell you, without any hesitation that there will be no hunger and poverty by 2020,”. Ten years back, this same ruler had deceived you through slogans such as “time for change”, “digital Bangladesh” and made false promises of giving jobs in every family. However, instead of fulfilling your hopes and aspirations, this government has brutally suppressed even your basic demands. Last year, when a group of university students protested the unjust quota system, you witnessed how the government had suppressed them. Similarly, when school students held protests demanding safe roads, the government, instead of taking measures against the relevant corrupt minister or the opportunistic transport owner’s syndicate, let loose its “helmeted thugs” and the police on the students in order to repress them. Even innocent schoolchildren are not safe from this government’s brutal repression. On the other hand, gestures such as donating five buses to the students of Ramijuddin Cantonment College, or laying the foundations of a foot over-bridge named after Abrar, is nothing but a heartless mockery of your situation!
Oh Youths! The government is also oppressing you constantly through its failed policies and corrupt ruling system, which has made your day-to-day lives miserable and has destroyed your future. Corruption has penetrated into every part of the education system, where question papers of national exams can be leaked and results can be changed through bribes, proving that money is more important than merit for securing good results! This has caused the standards of education to deteriorate in general. The situation is such that in schools many students are being forced to commit suicide because of the biased education system which creates only despair in them. The government education institutions are deliberately starved of funds and facilities so that students are forced to enrol in private institutions. These private institutions are nothing but the money making machines of the ruling class and their crony business elites. They are robbing you and your families of your hard earned money in the name of “quality education” and using that money to lead lavish lives and to send their children off to study in foreign universities. You, on the other hand, are struggling to cope up with the cost of your education. Even after investing so much in your education, you are struggling to get a decent job once you graduate. Those of you, who are brave enough to invest your parent’s hard earned money in start-ups, are soon finding out that you are unable to compete with large corporations, who are getting an unfair advantage due to the government’s capitalist-friendly policies. As a result, you the youth are submerged in unemployment and, unable to cope with this frustration, many are resorting to addiction and even suicide.
However, it is not only the youths who are in misery under the current system. Widespread corruption in the public and private sector, the increasing rich-poor gap, the horrible and unsafe living conditions of a large number of the population, the unaffordable healthcare costs, rising costs of living are just some of the problems that all people living under this system are facing, regardless of age, race or religion.
Oh Youths! These problems, which have been given birth by this corrupt state, are the fruits of the poisonous tree of the democratic-capitalist system which the Kuffar Imperialist West has forced upon us. Capitalism is a system in which material benefit and mindless consumption are the only maxims and which ensure that the money and power are concentrated at the hands of a few, the few being the ruling class and the crony economic elites who surround them. This “few”, the 1%, formulate laws and policies that secure their interests and exploit the common masses. As a result, the rich get even richer and more powerful, whereas the rest of the society struggles to attain even their basic rights. Finally, when the people are forced to come out to the streets, the government foil these righteous demands using lies, deceit and repression. Oh Youths! The system of government which is based upon secular democratic capitalism is unfit to be reformed. Therefore this system needs radical and comprehensive change.
Oh Righteous Youths! The solution to all our problems lies within the Islamic system of government, i.e., the Khilafah Rashidah (rightly guided Caliphate) which has been ordained by Allah (swt). The only way to liberate ourselves from this miserable condition is to re-establish the Khilafah Rashidah, which will allow us to emerge as a leading nation upon this Earth. Allah (swt) says,
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمْ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا
“This day I have perfected for you your deen and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your deen”. [Surah Al Maidah: 3]
Firstly, regardless of their religion and race, for every citizen, the Khilafah is bound by the Shari’ah to ensure the basic rights such as food-clothing-shelter, education-health and security. RasulAllah ﷺ said:
«الْإِمَامُ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ»
“Imam (Khalifah) is the guardian and he is responsible for his citizen.” [Bukhari/Muslim].
By ensuring the basic necessities of man, the state ensures that you do not have to struggle for your survival, and therefore can focus your merit, energy and potential to the fullest extent in order to build a leading nation.
Secondly: The Khilafah will abolish the discriminatory and divisive education system that is present today (i.e., Bangla and English mediums, and madrasas) and establish a unifying primary and secondary education system in its place which will be free of cost. This education system will culture the children to become Islamic personalities, teach them the general knowledge for their practical lives, as well as knowledge in the sciences and create a solid foundation for higher education.
Thirdly: The Khilafah will create a quality higher education system. The State will ensure adequate funds for a higher education system based on research and scientific enquiry which will create a technologically advanced powerful and leading State. It will also create an environment in society which facilitates learning.
Fourthly: Mineral resources such as uranium, coal, gas and oil will be redefined as public property. The Khilafah will use the income generated from these resources in order to build infrastructure, roads, highways, bridges etc. as well as to generate cheap electricity, among other necessities. The state will utilize these resources in order to ensure a high standard of living for its citizens.
Oh Aware Youths! For hundreds of years, the Muslim Ummah, through the Khilafah state, was the leading force in the world in thought, sciences, ruling, economics, industry and military, along with all other facets of life. And in order to reach this position of leadership, it was the Muslim youth who had played the most vital role. The history of this Ummah is glorified by the achievements of youth like Muhammad Al Fateh. At the young age of 21, he had fulfilled the prophecy of Rasulullah ﷺ and defeated the Romans to conquer Constantinople (Istanbul) and made it the capital of the Islamic State. Tariq Bin Ziad conquered Spain at the age of 17, and it is also at this age that Muhammad Bin Qasim had defeated the Raja Dahir to put down a solid foundation for Islam in the subcontinent. At the age of 18, Bakhtiar Khilji, whose arrival had caused Raja Lokkhon Sen to flee without putting up a fight, established Islamic rule in this subcontinent. This is your real history, oh Muslim youths! So come forth and join the struggle to re-establish the Khilafah and reclaim your lost glory!
Oh Courageous, Aware and Righteous Youths! The ruling class, against whom you are engaged in the struggle to attain your rights, has just one stance, and that is to reject your demands, to foil your efforts, and to exhaust your irrepressible energy; therefore, your political programme should also be just one, that is, to unseat this corrupt ruling class and the capitalist-democratic ruling system. This capitalist system that gives birth to these tyrant rulers, and therefore it is futile to place your demands of reforming the State to them. Your movements have shaken the pillars of this corrupt government and they are fearful of your strength, and therefore it is possible for you to overthrow this government. So channel all your strengths in order to remove the current rulers and march towards the ultimate goal of re-establishing the Khilafah, which is the only path to liberation. Let your only slogan be, “The youths want the downfall of the tyrant regime, the youths want the Khilafah Rashidah”. We from Hizb ut Tahrir are calling you towards this goal: Unite in the one demand of removing this Kufr democratic system and join the intellectual and political struggle to re-establish the Khilafah Rashidah.
Allah (swt) says,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ
“O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life.” [Surah Al Anfal: 24]
Hizb ut Tahrir Wilayah Bangladesh
Ramadan 1440 AH
May 2019 CE