The Bangladeshi caretaker government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has lifted a longstanding ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami party and its student wing, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the country. This decision ends an 11-year prohibition that barred the party from participating in elections, a ban that was originally imposed by the Awami League government just before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation on August 5. The lifting of the ban is based on a lack of evidence of involvement in terrorism, as stated by the Interior Ministry.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman emphasized the party's commitment to unity among all religions in Bangladesh, rejecting any intent to foster division. He expressed the party's desire to end political hate speech and called for reforms across various sectors, including the constitution and the judicial system. Rahman also highlighted the importance of supporting families affected by recent political confrontations, asserting that the party did not engage in sabotage during the student protests that led to the previous government's downfall.
Historically, Jamaat-e-Islami has faced multiple bans since Bangladesh's independence, often related to its controversial past during the 1971 Liberation War. The recent decision to lift the ban follows the re-registration of the Amar Bangladesh Party, an offshoot of Jamaat-e-Islami, indicating a potential shift in the political dynamics as Bangladesh approaches future elections.
