Bangladesh bans Jamaat-e-Islami, bodies after protests

DHAKA: Bangladesh banned the Jamaat-e-Islami party, its student wing and other associate bodies, terming the party as a “militant and terrorist” organisation as part of a nationwide crackdown following weeks of violence that left more than 250 people dead and thousands injured.

The announcement comes after the ruling Awami League party-led coalition accused the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing of “carrying out violence” during the student protests. However, the Jamaat-e-Islami denied the allegations, describing the government announcement as an “illegal move.”

The government is blaming the opposition in an attempt to “hide its killing of the students,” the party said in a statement posted on social media.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her political partners blamed Jamaat-e-Islami, its Islami Chhatra Shibir student wing and other associate bodies for inciting violence during recent student protests over a quota system for government jobs.

In an official circular, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs said on Thursday the ban was imposed under an anti-terrorism law.

Bangladesh was rocked by violent student protests demanding reforms in public jobs. The protests have subsided since the government imposed a nationwide curfew and deployed the military.

According to the Daily Star newspaper, over 10,000 people have been arrested in the last 12 days, including many members of opposition parties.