Jamaat will be dealt with as militant group after ban, says Hasina

“There will be no place for militants on Bangladeshi soil. We will all have to be vigilant,” she says

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina says she believes that the Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir may ‘go underground and engage in destructive activities’ after their ban and will have to be dealt with as a ‘militant group’.

She made the statement at a voluntary blood donation programme, discussion, and prayer ceremony organised by the Krishak League at the KIB Auditorium in Dhaka’s Khamarbari on Thursday.

The government is set to bar the party and its student wing under the Anti-Terrorism Act for what it says was their involvement in the recent violence surrounding the quota reform movement. Law Minister Anisul Huq has indicated that the ban, issued by executive order, would be announced in a notice soon.

“As militants, they will try and go underground and cause destruction,” Hasina said. “As such, we have to deal with them as a militant group and work together to protect the people.”

“There will be no place for militants on Bangladeshi soil. We will all have to be vigilant. I will ask the residents of our country to be alert. We want their support.”

In 1972, Jamaat – an anti-independence party – was banned for the ‘misuse of religion for political purposes’. Now the party is being banned over their threat to security.

“I know that there will be blows. I do not care. Allah has given me life and He will take it away one day. But when there is work to be done for the welfare of the people, we will continue to do that work.”

The Awami League has launched its programmes for a month of mourning to commemorate the killing of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family.

“Through the blood donation programme, we have started the month of mourning on Aug 1,” Hasina said. “The leaders of all affiliates should not only mourn, they should work for the people and stand by the people which is the ideal and goal of the Father of the Nation.”

“The Father of the Nation has worked for the nation. He did not take anything with him aside from the cloth on his coffin. He only gave. We must realise those ideals.”

Prayer services were held for those killed in the recent violence as well as those killed on Aug 15. Afterwards, the prime minister launched the blood donation drive.