In a decisive move, the Bangladesh government has officially banned Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated organisations, including Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, under anti-terrorism laws, accusing them of involvement in terrorist activities.
This order, issued on Thursday (1 August), marks a significant development in the nation's political landscape.
This is not the first time Jamaat-e-Islami has faced such a ban. The party was initially proscribed in 1972, shortly after Bangladesh gained independence, on the grounds of "misusing religion for political purposes."
Jamaat-e-Islami has been a contentious entity in Bangladesh's political arena.
The party's history of opposition to Bangladesh's independence in 1971 stands as a rare example of a political faction that has managed to remain active despite its controversial stance during a pivotal moment in the nation's history.
Origins of Jamaat-e-Islami trace back to British India, where it was founded on 26 August 1941 by Syed Abul A'la Maududi in Lahore.
The party was originally known as Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and opposed the creation of Pakistan as a separate state for Muslims.
Following the partition of India in 1947, Maududi relocated to Pakistan, and the party was divided into separate entities in India and Pakistan, eventually giving rise to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami from the branch in East Pakistan.
During the Pakistani era, Jamaat-e-Islami was an active political force, opposing Ayub Khan’s Muslim Family Laws Ordinance in 1962 and participating in the democratic movements against his regime.
Despite facing bans and arrests, including the detainment of Maududi and 60 other leaders in 1964, the party continued to exert influence.
In the tumultuous period of 1971, Jamaat-e-Islami vehemently opposed the Liberation War of Bangladesh, leading to its ban in 1972 under the newly established constitution.
However, the political scene shifted dramatically following the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
In 1976, President ASM Sayem issued an ordinance lifting the ban on religious-based politics, allowing Jamaat-e-Islami to re-enter the political arena.
The party officially re-emerged in 1979 as Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, under the leadership of Abbas Ali Khan as acting Ameer.
Jamaat-e-Islami continued to play a significant role in Bangladesh's politics, notably participating in the 2001 national elections as part of the BNP-led four-party alliance, securing 18 seats and influencing the formation of the government.
The party was renamed Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in 2008 to get registered as a political party with the election commission. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami changed its logo 8 years after the party had become "Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami" from "Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh".
However, its political journey faced another setback when, in 2009, the legality of its registration was challenged, leading to a 2013 Supreme Court verdict declaring its registration invalid and barring it from participating in elections.
Four of its leaders, two of whom have been ministers, have been executed for war crimes since 2013.
The recent ban reinforces the government's stance against organisations perceived as threats to national security, marking a new chapter in the ongoing saga of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh's political history.
