Bangladesh Awami Olama League
{{more citations needed|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Bangladesh Awami Olama League
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| formation = 1996
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| headquarters = Bangladesh
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Bangladesh Awami Olama League is a religious organization of Bangladesh that claims affiliation with Bangladesh Awami League.{{cite news |title=Awami Olama League against funding Bangla New Year celebrations |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/04/09/awami-olama-league-against-funding-bangla-new-year-celebrations |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=9 April 2016 |accessdate=11 April 2016}}{{cite news |title=Olama League: other side of secular AL? |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/olama-league-other-side-secular-al-125065 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=11 April 2016 |accessdate=11 April 2016}} Although the Bangladesh Awami League denies{{cite news |title=Awami League has no relations with Olama League: Hanif |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/04/13/awami-league-has-no-relations-with-olama-league-hanif1 |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=13 April 2016 |access-date=13 April 2016}} any relationship, critics argue it uses platforms such as the Olama League for its own political benefits.{{cite news |last=Molla |first=Mohammad Al- Masum |date=24 November 2014 |title=Fakhrul blames AL for rise of militancy |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/politics/2014/nov/24/fakhrul-blames-al-rise-militancy |newspaper=Dhaka Tribune |access-date=11 April 2016}}
History
The Awami Olama League was officially founded in 1996 on the directives of the Awami League president and later prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. Awami League officially denies involvement with it, although members maintain close ties with Awami League decision makers. Analysts argue that this gives the Awami League an "Islamic label" and serves as a "pocket organization" rather than a source of opposition.{{cite journal |last=Islam |first=Md Saidul |date=March 2011 |title='Minority Islam' in Muslim Majority Bangladesh |url=http://www.bdresearch.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=249:minority-islam--in-muslim-majority-bangladesh-the-violent-road-to-a-new-brand-of-secularism&catid=101:political-issues&Itemid=125 |journal=Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=137–138 |doi=10.1080/13602004.2011.556893 |issn=1360-2004 |accessdate=28 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623192814/http://www.bdresearch.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=249:minority-islam--in-muslim-majority-bangladesh-the-violent-road-to-a-new-brand-of-secularism&catid=101:political-issues&Itemid=125 |archive-date=23 June 2016 |url-status=dead |url-access=subscription }}
The organization is currently divided into several factions, one led by Ismail Hossain Bin Helali, another led by Abdul Hasan Sheikh Shariatpuri, who are also rival Sufi groups. They accuse each other of being "agents" of Jamaat-e-Islami and being "illiterate". The two factions have often clashed violently and repeatedly.{{cite news |title=25 injured as Olama League factions clash |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/25-injured-olama-league-factions-clash-158704 |newspaper=The Daily Star|date=18 October 2015 |accessdate=20 April 2016}}
Controversy
In 2016, the organization demanded a stop to government funding of Pahela Baishakh and a ban on airing of Indian channels in Bangladesh.
In 2017, Olama League demanded removal of the placement of a statue of the Greek goddess of justice from the premises of the Supreme Court.{{cite news|title=Hefajat, Olama league demand removal of SC sculpture|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/hefajat-olama-league-demand-removal-sc-sculpture-1356049|accessdate=17 March 2017|publisher=The Daily Star|date=5 February 2017}}{{cite news|title=Remove Greek statue from HC premises : Ulama League|url=http://www.abnews24.com/english/2017/03/04/8302/Remove-Greek-statue-from-HC-premises-:-Ulama-League|accessdate=17 March 2017|publisher=ABNews|date=4 March 2017|archive-date=18 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318004336/http://www.abnews24.com/english/2017/03/04/8302/Remove-Greek-statue-from-HC-premises-:-Ulama-League|url-status=dead}}