Staff Reporter :
Following the government’s announcement of the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, various political parties and leaders have voiced their reactions to the decision.
Most parties aligned with the ruling Awami League, particularly leftist groups, have welcomed the ban with satisfaction, viewing it as a significant step towards ending what they characterise as communal politics associated with Jamaat-Shibir.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon expressed the view that Jamaat-e-Islami is unlikely to exit politics permanently, noting that the party had previously been banned but managed to return to the political arena with Ziaur Rahman’s support. Menon remarked, “Since the mass uprising of the 1990s, we have been calling for a ban on Jamaat. Had we succeeded then, we might not be facing the current situation.”
Hasanul Haque Inu, President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD), asserted that if Jamaat attempts to reconstitute itself under a different name, it should face a ban once again.
He accused Jamaat-Shibir of being involved in recent violence across the country and in the massacre of students, attributing these actions to their ideological stance of violence. Inu also criticised the party for not apologising for its historical actions during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
Mujahidul Islam Selim, former President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), supported the ban but emphasised that it is not a complete solution. He stressed the need to eradicate communal politics and return to the spirit of independence.
Zonayed Saki, Chief Coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolan, criticised the government’s approach, claiming that the ban on Jamaat-Shibir is a distraction from more pressing issues.
He argued that the government’s actions are an attempt to divert attention from the recent violence against students who were protesting for their rights.