Political consensus needed to ban Jamaat-Shibir if necessary: Nur

Political consensus may be necessary to ban Jamaat and Chhatra Shibir if they are deemed to pose an extremist threat, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment State Minister Nurul Haque Nur said today (20 August).

"The Awami League banned Jamaat-Shibir, while the interim government lifted the ban. Now the elected government needs to consider the issue. If necessary, political consensus should be built to ban extremist organisations like Jamaat-Shibir," he said, reports Prothom Alo.

Nur, who is also president of Gono Odhikar Parishad, made the remarks while speaking to reporters outside Dhaka Medical College Hospital after visiting Sohanur Rahman -- a Chhatra Odhikar Parishad activist who was injured in a clash with Jamaat-Shibir activists in Kushtia.

Referring to the ban on the Awami League over its alleged responsibility for killings during the 2024 July Uprising, Nur said Jamaat-Shibir should also face a ban over "more serious atrocities" during the 1971 Liberation War, including killings, looting and rape.

He warned that failure to ban Jamaat-Shibir could allow extremism to grow and create an international image crisis for Bangladesh.

Nur also referred to a recent UN Security Council report that expressed concern over attempts by Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) to exploit Bangladesh to establish cells.

He alleged that Jamaat-Shibir could be used for such activities and accused the organisations of maintaining armed cadres.

The UN report, however, specifically raised concerns about AQIS seeking to establish cells in Bangladesh; it did not link Jamaat-Shibir to those efforts.

"Jamaat-Shibir was oppressed during the Awami League regime, but over the past six months, it has become an oppressive organisation. This extremist group must be resisted and prevented from now on. Otherwise, like a virus, it will spread and cause harm to society and the country," Nur said.

Nur compares Jamaat-Shibir with Awami League

Nur alleged that Jamaat-Shibir and the Awami League represented similar forms of "fascist" politics.

"The Awami League became fascist after coming to power, while Jamaat-Shibir demonstrated its violent character even though it was not in government," he said.

He also accused Jamaat of pressuring the government to advance its political interests and seeking to gain control of financial institutions, including Islami Bank.

"They want a share of power. They must not be given that opportunity under any circumstances. If given the opportunity, they will bring a terrible disaster upon the nation," he said.

Criticising Jamaat lawmaker Amir Hamza of Kushtia-3 over remarks he made in sermons and Friday prayers, Nur urged the people to resist statements that promote hatred, division or indecency.

He also criticised Jamaat for issuing a statement in support of Amir Hamza, saying it demonstrated that the party endorsed his "distorted mindset."

Nur alleged that the actions of Amir Hamza, Satkhira MP Nazrul Islam and other Jamaat leaders demonstrated the party's "moral decline".

"If Jamaat-e-Islami still claims to be an Islamic party after these activities, it would be a farce," he said, calling on the party to remove the word "Islam" from its name.

Nur further alleged that Jamaat had begun criticising the current government within six months because of its desire to gain power.