Jamaat-e-Islami banned: Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina government on Thursday issued an executive order banning Jamaat-e-Islami, its student wing and other organisations affiliated to it. The move was taken as part of a nationwide crackdown after weeks of violent protests in Bangladesh. Nearly 150 people have been killed and thousands injured in violence during student protests.
The ruling Awami League and its political allies were already accusing the Jamaat. They say that the Jamaat, its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir and other major organizations have instigated violence during the recent student protests against the quota system for government jobs. In such a situation, it was almost certain that the government would take some strict action against its political opponents. The Home Ministry has banned the Jamaat under the anti-terrorism law by issuing a gazette notification on Thursday.
The government considered Jamaat a terrorist organization
The government gazette said, “Since the government believes that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir and its front organisations are involved in terrorist activities, the government has banned them as political units and organisations under Section 18 (1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2009.”
In 2013, Jamaat was declared illegal
The Islamist party, formed by Syed Abul Ala Maududi in 1941 in Lahore, British India, has long been banned. Soon after Bangladesh’s independence, it was banned for some time. After this, in 2013, the High Court declared the registration of Jamaat illegal and banned its participation in elections. Because the charter of Jamaat violates the Constitution. Its appeal against the order was rejected by the Supreme Court in 2023. Despite this, Jamaat has always been active in political activities.
What did the barrister who fought against Jamaat say?
Barrister Tania Amir, who has been fighting against Jamaat in the courts, told the Telegraph that ‘Jamaat as a political party was dead in 2013 itself, today the government buried it by putting the last nail in the coffin.’ It is said that a large population of Bangladesh hates Jamaat because during the 1971 independence war, Jamaat opposed the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
What did the head of the Jamaat say?
Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman has condemned this order and called it unconstitutional. He said that Jamaat was not involved in the recent violence. In a written statement, he accused the government of suppressing the non-political movement of students. He also blamed the government and government agencies for the action taken against Jamaat.
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