The interim government has officially revoked the executive order issued by the previous Awami League government, which had imposed a ban on Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatrashibir. The home ministry announced this decision through a gazette released today, 28 August.
The notice clarifies that the government found no concrete evidence linking Jamaat-e-Islami or Islami Chhatrashibir to terrorism or violence. As a result, the government has declared that Jamaat and its affiliates are not involved in terrorist activities and are recognized as legitimate political entities. This decision was made under Section 18 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.
Yesterday, Advocate Md Shishir Monir, representing Jamaat-e-Islami and its associated organizations, hinted that the ban might be lifted. He noted that the ban had initially been imposed on 1 August by the Awami League government under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, and that the home ministry would now withdraw it following Section 19 of the same law.
Advocate Shishir expressed the belief that Jamaat was banned for political reasons rather than any actual involvement in terrorism. He highlighted Jamaat-e-Islami’s role in opposing the former government and its contributions to forming Dr. Yunus’s interim government.
Following the revocation of the ban, Advocate Shishir stated that efforts would be made to revive the case in the Appellate Division to restore the party’s official registration.
