Bangladesh’s government has decided to ban the extreme Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami and its student branch, Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir, with an executive order likely on Wednesday. The government’s decision comes after Bangladesh was rocked by rallies that were allegedly hijacked by extremist Islamists, resulting in widespread casualties.
14-party ruling alliance led by PM Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League took the decision
The 14-party ruling alliance, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, decided to ban the Jamaat-e-Islami and its Chhatrashibir. Anisul Haq, Bangladesh’s law minister, informed journalists that the ban on the Jamaat would be enacted through an executive order.
Jamaat leaders condemned the ban as “illegal, extrajudicial, and unconstitutional”.
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The Election Commission of Bangladesh has already deregistered the Jamaat, a violent right-wing party, following a High Court verdict in 2018.
According to various Dhaka-based media sites, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, the law minister stated on Tuesday that conversations with the home minister would take place on Wednesday to finalize the process of enforcing the ban.
The decision to ban the Jamaat comes as Bangladesh takes incremental strides toward normalcy following violence during student protests that killed over 150 people.
Public and commercial offices to resume functioning
The government announced that public and commercial offices will resume normal operations on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also said that her government would seek foreign technical support for a judicial investigative commission to investigate the killings during the quota agitation, according to The Daily Star on Tuesday.
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She stated that it was done to ensure “a thorough and standard inquiry”.
This was followed by the announcement of a ban on the Jamaat and its student branch.
“For the sake of the country, the 14-party alliance has decided to ban Jamaat-Shibir in order to eliminate anti-national evil forces,” Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader stated during the alliance parties’ meeting.
The meeting took place Monday evening at Sheikh Hasina’s official residence, Gono Bhaban.