Bangladesh Lifts Ban on Jamaat-e-Islami: A Shift in Political Landscape

Bangladesh's interim government has lifted the ban on the rightwing Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir. The ban was previously imposed by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's administration, accusing the group of terrorism. The decision marks a significant political change in the country.

In a significant political development, Bangladesh's interim government on Wednesday revoked the ban on the rightwing Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, almost a month after it was outlawed by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's administration.

According to a Home Ministry gazette notification, the lifting of the ban takes immediate effect, citing a lack of evidence against the organization. The earlier Awami League government had imposed the ban on August 1, 2024, labeling Jamaat as a "militant and terrorist" group and holding its student wing responsible for inciting chaos over a government job quota system.

The interim government's decision has been welcomed by Jamaat-e-Islami's chief, Shafiqur Rahman, who called for an end to divisive politics in Bangladesh. Rahman emphasized the party's commitment to national unity and dismissed the previous ban as a tactic to distract from anti-government movements.

(With inputs from agencies.)