Jamaat-e-Islami’s appointed lawyer, Shishir Monir, has stated that the interim government has revoked the notification banning Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir. He mentioned that the government might issue a notification on this matter as early as Wednesday. He learned this information from responsible officials within the government.
A responsible officer from the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs told Prothom Alo around noon today that the notification banning Jamaat and Chhatra Shibir might be revoked today. A notification on this matter is expected to be issued today.
During the previous Awami League government, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on August 1, banning Jamaat, Chhatra Shibir, and their other affiliated organizations under section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Even before this, there was a student and public uprising against the government. On August 5, the government fell due to a mass uprising, and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country.
Last Monday, Jamaat’s appointed lawyer, Shishir, told journalists in the Supreme Court premises that the notification banning Jamaat and Shibir could be withdrawn by Tuesday.
Sources indicate that Jamaat raised the issue of the ban on their party and student organization with the new government. Government officials asked Jamaat under which law the ban order could be withdrawn. At that point, Jamaat appointed Shishir Monir as their lawyer.
On Tuesday, Shishir Monir told this reporter that there is room for reconsideration regarding the withdrawal of the ban under the same Anti-Terrorism Act used to impose it. He has provided this explanation to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law. He has learned from government sources that the official process is underway.
Since its establishment in 1941 under the leadership of Syed Abul Ala Maududi, Jamaat has been banned four times. It was banned in 1959 and 1964 in then-Pakistan and in 1972 in independent Bangladesh, following the establishment of a secular constitution, along with all other religion-based parties.
Later, during the rule of the late President Ziaur Rahman, Jamaat-e-Islami was allowed to engage in open politics in 1979. During this time, the Islamic Chhatra Sangha changed its name to Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Jamaat was last banned on August 1, during the previous Awami League government. After 27 days, the notification banning them has been withdrawn.
In 2013, the Election Commission canceled Jamaat’s registration following a court ruling. Jamaat had appealed against the High Court’s ruling, but the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal on November 19, 2023. As a result, the decision to cancel the party’s registration remains in place.
Lawyer Shishir Monir told this reporter that they will apply to the Appellate Division next week to reconsider the decision to cancel the registration.
