Govt ready to deal with Jamaat, if goes underground: Law Minister

Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said that the government is prepared to handle any underground activities by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, after they are banned.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday (August 1), the minister addressed concerns about the potential consequences of banning the organisations.

When asked about the possibility of Jamaat-Shibir operating secretly after the ban, the minister said, "They may go underground, but we are prepared to deal with it. Many groups have gone underground in the past, and we know what happened to them."

He also mentioned that the government has made arrangements to amend the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, ensuring that legal actions can still be taken against the organisation even after a ban. "Banning the group doesn’t mean they cannot be punished. We have the legal framework to address this," he added.

Regarding the fate of the party's assets post-ban, Anisul confirmed that the law provides mechanisms to deal with them. "Their assets will be managed according to the law," he said.

When asked if disciplinary actions would be taken against party members, the minister clarified that members would be prohibited from engaging in political activities under the banned party's banner. "If any member commits a crime under Bangladeshi law, they will be prosecuted. However, individuals born after 1971 will not be judged based on historical census data," he explained.

The proposal to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing has already been vetted and sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The law minister confirmed that the Home Ministry has issued a notification today to enforce the ban.