Banning Jamaat
May turn militant but won't get public support
Political analysts tell BBC Bangla
If Jamaat-e-Islami is banned, it might carry out militant activities but will not get public support, political analysts told BBC Bangla yesterday.
Though the government may face challenges from home and abroad in imposing the ban, it can handle the situation, they said.
Former Dhaka University teacher Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury said, “Bangladeshis never liked to mingle religion with politics. Besides, there is no room for militancy to gain people's support because it was proven several times earlier through the rejection of extremist politics of some leftist parties.â€
Despite having strong organisational capability, Jamaat has little public support and cannot gain from militancy, he added.
On December 22, 1971, some religion-based parties, including Jamaat, was banned and Jamaat was almost inactive for four years, said the BBC Bangla report.
Noted jurist Dr Kamal Hossain said the ban was imposed as the parties were involved in war crimes.
“Their politics was banned as they used religion for political gains…Bangladesh's recognition was delayed as they spread propaganda in Muslim countries against Bangladesh,†he said.
“As there was no political party during 1976, Ziaur Rahman issued Political Parties Regulation so that all parties could register to engage in politics and then Jamaat-Muslim League entered politics,†said former Dhaka University vice chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed.
Salahuddin Babar, executive editor of Naya Diganta, said if banned, a section of Jamaat leaders might head towards an alternative direction.
“If Jamaat wants to walk this path (militancy), they will face destruction,†he added.
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