Govt lifts ban on Jamaat, Shibir

The interim government has lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir. 

The Political Section 2 of the Public Security Division at the Home Ministry issued a gazette notification on Wednesday, announcing the decision.

The notification stated, as there is no concrete evidence of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student organisation Islami Chhatra Shibir being involved in terrorism and violence, the government has decided to cancel the previous order (SRO 281/Act/2024) issued on August 1, 2024, which had banned these organisations under Section 18 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.

The gazette also mentioned that Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir would be delisted from Schedule-II of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.

Earlier, the interim government had forwarded the necessary file to the Law Ministry after deciding to lift the ban. 

Jamaat’s attorney, Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Manir, earlier on the day said that a review committee from the Home Ministry found no involvement of Jamaat or its affiliates in terrorist activities. Consequently, the interim government's chief adviser, along with the home and law advisers, collectively decided to revoke the ban.

The initial ban, imposed on August 1, was based on claims of Jamaat and Shibir's involvement in recent killings, destructive activities, and terrorism, marking the second time Jamaat-e-Islami was banned as a political party in Bangladesh. 

The decision to lift the ban came after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister on August 5, following a mass uprising against her Awami League government.