Bangladesh’s caretaker government lifted the ban on the country’s main Islamic party and its affiliated groups on Wednesday, stating that it found no evidence linking them to “terrorist activities.”
The Jamaat-e-Islami party was previously banned by the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina under anti-terrorism laws, as it was accused of inciting violence during student-led protests that escalated into an uprising against Hasina, leading to her resignation and escape to India on August 5.
However, a gazette notification issued by the caretaker government, which succeeded Hasina’s administration, stated there was “no specific evidence of involvement of Jamaat” and its affiliates “in terrorist activities.”
Jamaat has denied the accusations of inciting violence and criticized the ban as “illegal, extrajudicial, and unconstitutional.”
Since 2013, Jamaat has been unable to contest elections after a court ruled that its registration as a political party was incompatible with Bangladesh’s secular constitution.
