A significant change occurred on Wednesday when Bangladesh’s new government decided to reverse the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party. This ban had been imposed during the final days of Sheikh Hasina’s rule, who has since been ousted from power.
In an official statement, the government announced that the previous order from August 1, 2024, which prohibited Jamaat-e-Islami, has been revoked. The lifting of this ban is to take effect immediately, signaling a shift in the political landscape.
Jamaat-e-Islami, known for its extensive support base, was initially banned from participating in elections in 2013. The decision was made by high court judges who determined that the party’s charter was in conflict with the secular constitution of Bangladesh, a nation with a population of 170 million, predominantly Muslim.
Additionally, the party was excluded from contesting the 2014, 2018, and January 2024 elections. These elections resulted in Sheikh Hasina securing her fifth term in office, although the process faced widespread criticism for lacking credible opposition.
Hasina’s Last Act: Banning Jamaat-e-Islami Before Fleeing, Now Reversed Amid Shifting Political Tides
Just days before Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power, her government took the drastic step of banning Jamaat-e-Islami entirely under an anti-terrorism act. This ban, enacted on August 1, came only four days before she fled to India by helicopter following weeks of intense student-led protests.
However, in a recent government order, it was stated that the ban, which also included the party’s student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, has been lifted. The reason given for this reversal was the absence of concrete evidence linking the party to terrorism and violence.
Jamaat-e-Islami, alongside the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, remains one of the major political forces in the country. Meanwhile, questions linger about the current influence of Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, which once held significant power.
