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The interim government of Bangladesh on Wednesday decided to lift the ban on the country's largest Islamic party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir. Earlier, Sheikh Hasina's government had banned this pro-Pakistan organization. The Home Ministry issued a gazette notification announcing the lifting of the ban on the party and all its organizations with immediate effect. The notification said that there is no concrete evidence that Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliate organizations were involved in acts of terrorism and violence in Bangladesh. It further said that the interim government believes that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates are not involved in any terrorist activities.
Earlier, her government had banned the party and its affiliates in an order issued on August 1, four days before former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from office and took refuge in India. At the time, Hasina's government accused Jamaat-e-Islami of being involved in violent protests across the country. Protests began in July by students against controversial quotas in government jobs. Although the quotas were cancelled by the court, the protests turned violent and Hasina had to step down.
Jamaat-e-Islami claims – not anti-India
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman said his party wants good relations with India but India needs to rethink its foreign policy towards the neighbourhood. Rahman also said Jamaat supports close India-Bangladesh ties but also wants Bangladesh to have strong and balanced relations with Pakistan, China and the US. Rahman claimed that India's perception of Jamaat as an anti-India party was wrong and said the party is not against any country. He said that we are supporters of Bangladesh and have full interest in protecting the interests of Bangladesh.
Hasina's government hanged many party leaders
The party was formerly known as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. It was formed in pre-partition India under the leadership of Syed Abul Ala Maududi. It has been banned four times since its inception in 1941. Let us tell you that Jamaat-e-Islami was a key ally of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), whose members held ministerial positions in coalition governments during 2001-2005. During Bangladesh's independence war in 1971, Hasina's government accused several Jamaat leaders of crimes. Between 2013 and 2016, five Jamaat leaders, including party chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, were convicted and hanged.