Allies demand ban on Jamaat’s politics
The Awami League welcomed the High Court’s ruling declaring illegal the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami but its allies said they thought it was ‘not enough’ though
the verdict paved way for banning political outfits like Jamaat.
Immediately after the ruling, a state minister said the government would initiate a legal process to outlaw Jamaat.
The Awami League leaders said the verdict had once again proved that the party propagating anti-liberation and sectarian ideals had no right to do politics in the independent Bangladesh.
The party’s presidium member Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin
told New Age that he was personally satisfied with the HC ruling.
‘Now it will be difficult for the anti-liberation outfit to contest the next general elections,’ he said adding that a ban should be imposed on the politics of Jamaat in the country.
Lenin said that the verdict came at a time when the demand for outlawing the party, accused of war crimes during the Liberation War, was mounting.
AL presidium member Kazi Zafrullah told New Age that he was satisfied with the verdict.
‘There is a provision for appeal against the verdict. I will be delighted if the appellate division does not change the verdict,’ he added.
Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said that Jamaat had lost all rights to do politics in the independent Bangladesh after committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War and opposing Bangladesh’s independence.
‘But Ziaur Rahman rehabilitated Jamaat in Bangladesh by allowing it to do politics,’ he said adding that the High Court ruling declaring Jamaat’s registration illegal had proved that the communal party had no rights to do politics in Bangladesh.
‘I am happy and satisfied with the verdict. I think the verdict has made it easier to ban the terrorist activities of Jamaat,’ he said.
Awami League organising secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim told New Age, ‘The nation had long been waiting for this verdict and now not only Awami League but all pro-liberation and secular forces of the country are happy,’ he added.
State minister for law Quamrul Islam said the court ruling was a first legal step towards banning the politics of Jamaat.
In his reaction to the High Court verdict, he told reporters in his office at the secretariat that Jamaat would be outlawed through a legal process very soon.
Asked whether the government would take a move to ban Jamaat’s politics, the junior minister said it would be better to follow the legal process. The government has nothing to do with it,’ he added.
He, however, said that the aggrieved quarters had the right to appeal against the verdict which would not bar the party from doing politics.
‘Wait and see. Jamaat’s politics would be banned at an appropriate time through a legal process as the International Crimes Tribunals in two or three verdicts have made some observations in this regard,’ Quamrul added.
Left leaning parties welcomed the verdict but said that declaring Jamaat’s registration illegal was not enough rather the party should be banned immediately.
Jatiya Party presidium member Kazi Feroz Rashid said he said the party, a major ally of the AL, would come up with its formal reaction after the appellate division delivered its ruling over the matter. ‘The High Court verdict is not the last thing. We look forward to what ruling the Supreme Court issues,’ he said.
Workers Party of Bangladesh president Rashed Khan Menon told New Age that they had registered their protest when Jamaat was registered with the Election Commission as a political party.
‘Now we welcome the High Court verdict and at the same time want an immediate ban on the outfit which committed crimes against humanity in 1971, Menon said.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal general secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia said the constitution was upheld through the verdict. He demanded immediate steps for banning Jamaat as a political party.
Ganatantri Party general secretary Nurur Rahman Selim also demanded a ban on Jamaat as a political party.
Communist Party of Bangladesh president Mujahidul Islam Selim termed the High Court ruling a victory of the people.
He demanded an immediate ban on Jamaat which he said had no right to do politics in Bangladesh because of the war crimes it had committed in 1971.
He also called for a thorough investigation to find out the illegal sources of its fund.
Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal general secretary Khalequzzaman said that Jamaat’s registration as a political party was a wrong decision on the part of the Election Commission. ‘We want a ban on Jamaat at a political party,’ he said.
-With New Age input
