Govt bans Jamaat, Chhatra Shibir

The government has banned Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, its student wing Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir and all its associate bodies as political party and organizations in the country. Home Ministry’s Public Security Division issued a gazette notification in this regard today.

According to the gazette notification, as the political party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir along with its all associate organizations were banned under clause 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir along with its all associate organizations were listed as banned entities.

The gazette notification said that the government has sufficient evidences that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliate Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir were involved in the recent killings, destructive activities and terrorist activities directly and through incitement.

The government believes that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir along with its affiliated organizations have been involved in terrorist activities.

Mentioning three verdicts of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD Case No. 06 of 2011, ICT-BD Case No. 02 of 2012, ICT-BD Case No. 03 of 2012), the notification said Jamaat Islami (previously named as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh) and its student wing Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (previously known as Islami Chhatra Sangha), the tribunal held Jamaat and its front organisation liable for committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.

Besides, it said the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, following a writ petition, in August 2013 declared the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami given by the Election Commission illegal.

The Supreme Court later upheld the HC verdict. (BSS)