Jamaat on the brink of political uncertainty

Jamaat-e-Islami finds itself on the brink of political uncertainty as speculation mounts about its future. With the law minister announcing potential action against the party, the government is likely to ban Jamaat-e-Islami through an executive order today, following the decision of the 14-party alliance. This stance on Jamaat-e-Islami remains a topic of discussion in political circles.

Meanwhile, the BNP Secretary General has accused the government of using the Jamaat-e-Islami issue as a diversionary tactic to shift focus away from recent unrest related to the quota movement.

On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami says they have been in politics with the Awami alliance for a long time. Their position in parliament was also strong. Now, that former alliance partner cannot decide to ban another political party. If the government makes any unconstitutional decision, they will fight it legally. Similarly, they will fight against political decisions on the streets.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami has formally supported BNP's call for national unity yesterday. A joint statement is coming soon, followed by a unified program.

Multiple top opposition political leaders informed that the government has chosen this tactic to keep Jamaat and BNP separate. Even after being in power for the fourth consecutive term, the ruling party hasn't decided on banning Jamaat in a decade and a half. Whenever BNP announces a unified platform program, the government uses political intervention through executive orders to separate BNP from Jamaat. But given the current situation, BNP will no longer keep Jamaat at a distance. The movement will continue, and Jamaat will remain on the same stage as BNP. Now both parties aim to reap the fruits of the movement.

Relevant leaders are saying that this time Jamaat and BNP will not give the government any leeway. They will remain on the streets with programs on all public issues. In this case, they will stay united on the streets, disregarding cases, attacks, arrests, and torture.

Leaders inform that a joint statement signed by all consenting parties will be issued soon. It has been learned that BNP sees the country's ongoing situation as very critical. Therefore, this is considered the right time to form a national unity. Hence, all opposition political parties have been brought under one umbrella with the single demand of government downfall.

Reliable sources say that for now, all parties will issue a joint statement on the current political situation. Later, they are thinking of taking to the field unitedly through a unified program. The student movement demanding quota reform and the resulting situation have been taken as the right time to form unity. The student movement has public support, and they are also in the field. The movement will gradually gain momentum by capitalizing on public discontent over rising commodity prices, increased electricity and gas prices, and various other issues.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the government is bringing forward the decision to ban Jamaat-Shibir as a ploy to change the issue of violence surrounding the quota reform movement. He made this remark at a press conference yesterday about the ongoing situation. At this time, Mirza Fakhrul also called for the immediate withdrawal of the curfew and the return of the army to the barracks.

Jamaat to be banned today: Law Minister Anisul Huq has announced that Jamaat-Shibir will be banned today through an executive order. The Law Minister made this statement in response to journalists' questions at the Law Ministry in the Secretariat on Tuesday. Earlier on Monday, the 14-party alliance led by the Awami League agreed to ban Jamaat-Shibir at a meeting chaired by Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. After the meeting, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader informed journalists about the decision. Anisul Huq stated that the statement given by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader is very clear. The Prime Minister has also instructed him (the Law Minister).

What Jamaat is saying about the ban announcement: Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, strongly condemned and protested the decision to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, taken at the 14-party alliance meeting on July 29. In a statement on July 30, he said, “I strongly condemn and protest the illegal, ultra vires, and unconstitutional decision to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The Awami League-led 14-party alliance is a political platform. A political party or alliance cannot make decisions about another political party. The laws and constitution of Bangladesh do not allow anyone this authority. If the practice of one party banning another party is established, then parties will keep banning each other. There will be no order left in the state."

Jamaat's support for BNP's national unity: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has welcomed and agreed to be part of the "national unity" call made by BNP's Secretary General for all political parties, social and cultural organizations, and forces to unite in demanding the fall of the government. The party's acting secretary general Maulana ATM Masum said in a statement on Wednesday, “The current Awami government has taken away all rights of the people and finally carried out genocide in the country. By shooting students, they have made many fathers and mothers lose their children. The government itself has created anarchy in the country and is now conspiring to blame the opposition. The world, including Bangladesh, knows that the provocative and aggressive statements of government ministers have led the Chhatra League and law enforcement agencies to carry out genocide in the country. People from all levels of the country have united against this genocide. In this situation, we welcome the call for 'national unity' made by BNP's Secretary General, and we express our consent to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami joining the 'national unity'.”

Meanwhile, it has been learned that at least 31 parties and alliances have expressed support for BNP's call for national unity with a single-point demand, issuing separate statements from Saturday to Tuesday. These include the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the 12-party alliance, the Nationalist Like-Minded Alliance (11 parties), two factions of Gonodhikar Parishad, the Bangladesh Democratic People's Party, the Bangladesh Labor Party, and the Trinamool National Party.