Dhaka, 1 August: The 12-Party Alliance has strongly condemned and protested the banning of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Islami Chhatra Shibir under section 18/1 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
In a statement sent to the media today, the head of the 12-Party Alliance and Chairman of the National Party, Mostafa Jamal Haider, said that the government’s notification banning Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Islami Chhatra Shibir proves that there is no longer any practice of democracy in this country. On behalf of the 12-Party Alliance, we strongly condemn and protest this decision.
He stated that if any political party is to be banned under section 18/1 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Awami League should be banned first because the Awami League conducts terrorist activities openly in this country. This decision by the fascist government has paved the way for banning Awami League’s politics in the future.
Mostafa Jamal Haider expressed astonishment over how the Awami League decided to ban Jamaat during the 14-Party meeting. In light of their decision, the undemocratic government without a proper election has authored another dark chapter of undemocratic decisions. The nation questions whether permission must be obtained from the Awami League to practice democratic politics in Bangladesh.
He asserted that the government has banned Jamaat without any valid reason and that they may similarly ban all democratic political parties, including the BNP, in the future. The Awami League, along with their followers, wants to establish a one-party rule. We cannot accept this undemocratic decision by the government and strongly demand its immediate withdrawal.
The statement was signed by the head of the alliance and National Party Chairman Mr. Mostafa Jamal Haider, spokesperson and Secretary General of Bangladesh LDP Shahadat Hossain Selim, Secretary General of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh Mufti Golam Mohiuddin Ikram, Chairman of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Professor Nurul Amin Bepari, Vice President of National Democratic Party JAGPA Rashed Pradhan, Vice Chairman of Bangladesh National Party Md. Sarwar Alam, Chairman of Bangladesh Labor Party Lion Farooq Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Welfare Party Shamsuddin Parvez, Chairman of Islamic Unity Alliance Maulana Abdur Rakib, Secretary General of Islamic Party Abul Kashem, President of New Democratic Party Master M A Mannan, and Chairman of Progressive Nationalist Party Feroz Mohammad Liton.
