Dhaka, Aug 28 (V7N): The interim government has officially revoked the executive order imposed by the previous Awami League administration that banned Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatrashibir.

The home ministry issued a gazette today, August 28, lifting the ban.

On August 1, the ousted Awami League government had prohibited all political activities of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009. This decision was made in response to the recent violence connected to student protests.

This was the second instance of Jamaat being banned in Bangladesh. The previous notification, issued by the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs, stated that the government had ample evidence indicating Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatrashibir, were involved in recent violence, destruction, and terrorist activities.

The new notice declares that, due to the lack of specific evidence of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir's involvement in terrorism and violence, the government has decided to recognize them once again as a political party and organization. This decision was made under Section 18 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.

On August 27, Jamaat-e-Islami's lawyer, Advocate Md Shishir Monir, had predicted the possible withdrawal of the ban. Monir stated, “On August 1, the previous government used Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, to ban Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated organizations. The home ministry is set to lift the ban under Section 19 of the same law.”

He further commented, “We believe the ban was politically motivated. Jamaat-e-Islami has played a significant role in the political landscape, and steps will be taken to restore the party's registration following the lifting of the ban.”

A History of Bans

Jamaat-e-Islami had previously lost its registration with the Election Commission following a Supreme Court verdict in August 2013. This decision came after a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Tariqat Federation's Secretary General Rezaul Haque Chandpuri and others in 2009, arguing that Jamaat, as a religion-based political party, did not uphold Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty.

Earlier, on July 29, the Awami League-led 14-party alliance unanimously recommended banning Jamaat-Shibir after a meeting chaired by AL President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The alliance accused Jamaat-Shibir of committing violence, destroying state assets, and engaging in militant attacks.

Sheikh Hasina labeled the recent events surrounding the quota reform movement as militant activities and attributed the attacks to Jamaat-Shibir and BNP. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal confirmed that the process to ban Jamaat-Shibir was underway.

The party was initially banned in 1972 due to its anti-liberation stance, but the ban was lifted three years later by General Ziaur Rahman. Jamaat-e-Islami gained significant political power over the years, securing seats in various elections and aligning with the BNP in the 2001 election, where it won 17 seats.

In 2013, the party faced severe setbacks, including the sentencing of its deputy, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, to death, and the subsequent cancellation of its registration by the High Court.

The party, including its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, had previously been notorious for its militant activities and violence on university campuses.

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