Bangladesh’s caretaker government lifted the ban on the country’s main Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and its affiliated groups on Wednesday, citing a lack of evidence connecting them to “terrorist activities.”
The previous government, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had imposed the ban under anti-terrorism laws, accusing Jamaat-e-Islami of inciting deadly violence during student-led protests that escalated into an uprising, which eventually led to Hasina’s resignation and her subsequent departure to India on August 5.
In a notification issued on Wednesday, the caretaker government, which succeeded Hasina’s administration, stated that there was “no specific evidence” linking Jamaat and its affiliates to terrorist activities.
Jamaat-e-Islami has consistently denied the accusations of inciting violence and had denounced the ban as “illegal, extrajudicial, and unconstitutional.”
The party has been barred from participating in elections since 2013 when a court ruled that its registration as a political party conflicted with Bangladesh’s secular constitution.
Shishir Monir, the party’s lawyer, announced plans to file a petition with the Supreme Court early next week to seek the restoration of Jamaat’s registration.
