On Thursday, Bangladesh banned the Jamaat-e-Islami party, along with its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir and related groups, labeling them as “militant and terrorist” organizations. This move comes as part of a nationwide crackdown following weeks of violent protests that resulted in over 200 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Crackdown Under Anti-Terrorism Law
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her political allies accused Jamaat-e-Islami of inciting violence during recent student protests about the government job quota system. An official notice from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the ban was enacted under an anti-terrorism law. Since July 15, at least 211 people have died, and over 10,000 have been arrested across the country.
Historical Context and Legal Battles
Jamaat-e-Islami has been banned from participating in national elections since 2014, following the Election Commission’s cancellation of its registration. The party’s participation in elections was first prohibited by the High Court in 2013, which cited the party’s opposition to secularism as conflicting with the national constitution. The Supreme Court upheld this decision in 2023, ending a long legal battle and preventing the party from using its symbols or participating in elections. However, the party had continued to carry out political activities until the recent ban.
Reaction and Historical Background
The party did not immediately respond to the ban. However, on Tuesday night, party chief Shafiqur Rahman condemned the anticipated decision. “We strongly condemn and protest the illegal, unauthorized, and unconstitutional decision … to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami,” Rahman stated. He argued that political decisions should not be made by rival parties or alliances, warning that such actions could lead to chaos and the collapse of state order.
Jamaat-e-Islami, established in 1941, opposed the creation of Bangladesh during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. Many of its top leaders have been executed or imprisoned for crimes against humanity committed during the war. The party was previously banned after Bangladesh gained independence but was allowed to resume activities in 1976, following the assassination of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The government’s latest move to ban Jamaat-e-Islami highlights the ongoing tension and conflict within the country’s political landscape.
