Bangladesh revokes ban imposed on main Islamic party by ex-PM Hasina

Supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami occupy street of Matijheel area to hold a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, October 28, 2023. (REUTERS/File)
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  • Hasina鈥檚 government banned the Jamaat-e-Islami party under an anti-terrorism law, blaming it for stoking deadly violence during student-led protests
  • A gazette notification on Wednesday by the caretaker government said there was no specific evidence of the party鈥檚 involvement 鈥榠n terrorist activities鈥�

DHAKA: Bangladesh鈥檚 caretaker government revoked a ban on the country鈥檚 main Islamic party and its affiliated groups on Wednesday, saying it has not found evidence of their involvement in 鈥渢errorist activities.鈥�
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 government had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami party under an anti-terrorism law, blaming it for stoking deadly violence during student-led protests that turned into an uprising against Hasina, forcing her to resign and flee to India on Aug. 5.
A gazette notification on Wednesday by the caretaker government that replaced Hasina鈥檚 administration said there was 鈥渘o specific evidence of involvement of Jamaat鈥� and its affiliates 鈥渋n terrorist activities.鈥�
The party has denied allegations that it stoked violence and had condemned the ban as 鈥渋llegal, extrajudicial and unconstitutional.鈥�
Jamaat has not been able to contest elections in Bangladesh after a court said in 2013 its registration as a political party conflicted with Bangladesh鈥檚 secular constitution.
Shishir Monir, a lawyer for the party, said it will file a petition early next week at the Supreme Court to seek restoration of its registration.