Dhaka, August 6 (IANS) — In a decisive move to address the escalating violence and unrest across the country, the Bangladesh government has imposed a ban on the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The announcement was made on Thursday by the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, following a period of nationwide turmoil linked to protests over the quota system for government jobs.
The ban was enacted through an executive order under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which empowers the government to take stringent measures against organizations deemed to be a threat to national security. The decision marks a significant escalation in the government’s response to recent unrest, which has seen at least 150 people lose their lives and thousands more injured in protests that have swept across the nation.
The decision to ban Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated groups was confirmed by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who stated that the government had decided to outlaw all political activities of the party and its wings effective August 1. This move follows a meeting earlier this week of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance, which passed a resolution calling for the ban of Jamaat from politics. The government has accused the party of exploiting the recent student protests to incite violence and disrupt public order.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina voiced her concerns regarding the role of Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies in the recent unrest. During a meeting with Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro, Hasina criticized the party for allegedly using students as a cover for its political agenda and disrupting peace. She highlighted that Jamaat’s actions during the recent protests, which included violent confrontations and damage to government property, were a primary factor in the decision to impose the ban.
The ban on Jamaat-e-Islami is not unprecedented. The party, founded in 1941 in undivided India, was initially banned in 1972 by the newly formed government of Bangladesh for “misusing religion for political purposes” following the country’s independence from Pakistan. The party had opposed the 1971 Liberation War and sided with Pakistani forces, a stance that has been a point of contention in its history. However, the ban was later lifted by General Ziaur Rahman’s military government, allowing the party to reestablish itself and become a significant political player in the subsequent years.
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Despite the ban’s historical context, the current decision comes in the wake of severe and ongoing political violence. The recent protests began as a student-led movement demanding reforms to the quota system for government jobs, which they argued was discriminatory and unfair. The protests, which started in universities and colleges, rapidly expanded into a nationwide agitation against Prime Minister Hasina’s government and its policies.
The government’s response to the protests included deploying the Army to restore order, but the unrest persisted, resulting in a significant number of casualties and injuries. The violence also led to widespread damage to government infrastructure and a general disruption of public life.
Law Minister Anisul Huq emphasized that the decision to ban Jamaat-e-Islami was a direct response to the violence associated with the quota reform movement. He pointed out that while the students leading the protests had denied involvement in the violence, there was substantial evidence linking Jamaat, its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to the chaos. The government has accused these groups of orchestrating the unrest and contributing to the violence that marred the protests.
The Home Ministry has instructed security agencies to enforce a stricter vigil to prevent any violent backlash from the banned party. Home Minister Kamal warned that any violent reactions to the ban would be dealt with firmly, ensuring that public safety and order are maintained.
The ban also follows a broader effort by the Bangladeshi government to address issues related to political violence and extremism. Since 2009, Bangladesh has been engaged in a process of prosecuting key collaborators of Pakistani troops from the 1971 Liberation War on charges of crimes against humanity. This process has included the trials and executions of several top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the party and the current government.
The imposition of the ban reflects the government’s commitment to tackling political violence and maintaining public order in the face of escalating unrest. As the ban takes effect, its impact on Bangladesh’s political landscape and the broader implications for political freedoms and civil society will be closely watched. The decision underscores the complexities of managing political dissent and ensuring stability in a country with a fraught history of political violence and extremism.
