Jamaat-shibir is banned

In a significant move, the Government of Bangladesh has banned the religious political party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student organization, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, citing their involvement in terrorist activities. The decision was confirmed through a notification issued by the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The notification, signed by Jahangir Alam, Secretary of the Public Security Department, outlined that the ban follows the findings of the International Criminal Tribunal. The tribunal had found Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated organizations guilty of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. Additionally, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh had canceled the party's registration as a political entity in a judgment dated August 1, 2013, which was later upheld by the Appellate Division.

The government cited sufficient evidence indicating that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir were involved in recent killings, destructive activities, and terrorist acts. Consequently, under the powers granted by Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, these entities have been declared banned organizations and listed in Schedule-II of the Act.

Law Minister Anisul Haque, speaking to journalists earlier today, confirmed that the legal process to ban these organizations was in its final stages. He indicated that the Ministry of Home Affairs had completed the necessary legal formalities and that the ban would be published in an official gazette shortly.

The decision to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates marks a crucial step in the country's efforts to curb extremist activities and maintain public security.