Does Jamaat have the ‘right to politics’?

The government has banned Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, its student wing Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, and all its associated bodies as political parties and organisations in the country.

The Home Ministry's Public Security Division issued a gazette notification in this regard on Thursday. According to the gazette notification, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party, its student wing Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, and all associated organizations were banned under clause 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.
There are differing opinions among analysts and politicians regarding Jamaat's constitutional and democratic right to engage in politics.

When asked, Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikrom, President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), told the Daily Messenger, “The leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami are citizens of Bangladesh, and they have a constitutional right to engage in politics. The government has taken a misguided step to divert the current student movement in a different direction. I believe that the people of Bangladesh are united, and those leading the student movement are very discerning and educated.”

“The incidents of hundreds of student killings and the ongoing genocide will be brought to justice sooner or later by the people and students of this country. The government may have unethically banned Jamaat-Shibir, but they cannot ban their activities. The sooner this government comes to its senses and finds a way to exit, the better it will be,” he added.
Dr. Dilara Chowdhury, former professor of the Government and Politics Department at Jahangirnagar University, told the Daily Messenger, “Jamaat has been banned to divert attention from the students’ quota reform movement. The government is struggling to suppress the movement. Those who have taken to the streets are mostly students, workers, and common people. In fact, people have been suffocating for a long time due to the government's corruption and rising prices of goods.”

She commented that in the past, when the leaders of the ruling party’s student wing killed Abrar of BUET, he was also labeled as Shibir. Anyone who opposes the government is given this tag. In the future, those who take to the streets and protest will also be labeled as Jamaat-Shibir by the government.

Hasanul Haq Inu, leader of the 14-Party Alliance led by the Awami League, said, “Jamaat and Islami Chhatra Shibir are involved in communal genocide and are supporters of it. Their character hasn't changed in independent Bangladesh. They haven't even apologised for their actions. I believe the government has taken the right step, albeit late. It would have been better to ban Jamaat earlier.”

Mostafa Jamal Haider, chief of the 12-Party Alliance and chairman of the Jatiya Party, said, “The government's decision to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir demonstrates that democracy is no longer practiced in this country. If any political party is to be banned under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Awami League should be banned first, as it openly engages in terrorist activities. This decision by the fascist government sets a precedent for banning Awami League’s politics in the future.”