Ban on Jamaat demanded

Some civil society members yesterday demanded that the government ban Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefajat-e Islam and other like-minded organisations before the next general elections, to ensure a congenial atmosphere during the polls.
They also criticised the government for "negotiating and compromising" with Jamaat and Hefajat, and said the Awami League would not get votes from these groups no matter what "compromise" it made with them.
“The government will have to ban these organisations through executive order before the polls. Otherwise, vulnerable groups like women and religious minorities will not be able to cast their votes without fear," said Shahriar Kabir, executive president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, which champions the demand for war crimes trial.
The consequences will be dangerous if Jamaat is allowed to participate in the polls, he said, adding, "Why should we be frightened [to ban Jamaat]?"
The recent verdicts by the war crimes tribunals described Jamaat as a terrorist organisation and the prime minister herself branded the party as a terrorist organisation, he added.
The remarks came at a discussion on "Jamaat-e-Islami's involvement in militancy and international terror network" organised by the Nirmul Committee at the National Museum in the capital. A documentary titled "The Ultimate Jihad" by Shahriar Kabir was screened before the discussion.
Speaking on the 52-minute documentary, which was made based on interviews, Shahriar said the film showed the fact that the US was the patron of all terrorist activities and it had decided to promote political Islam in different Muslim countries to resist Soviet Union soon after the World War II.
The US does not want any Muslim country to become a secular state, and efforts for establishing secular countries by the statesmen from Turkey to Indonesia were thwarted by direct and indirect intervention of the US, he said, adding that the US had roles in the killings of statesmen of many countries.
"They [the US] are not worried about Bangladesh as they already assumed that the secular and progressive government will not be able to come to power in 2014 elections," he added.
Muntassir Mamoon, vice-president of the Committee, said, "Banning only Jamaat will not solve the problem. We have to be vocal against all the organisations that operate like Jamaat."
The government will not ban Jamaat in its tenure, but it will be possible only when the people get committed and take to the streets to realise their demand, he added.
Eminent historian Syed Anwar Husain demanded for banning all religion-based politics.
Presided over by Justice Ghulam Rabbani, the discussion was also addressed by State Minister for Social Welfare Promode Mankin, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Chairperson Ayesha Khanam and Gonojagoron Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker.