Bangladesh: Jamaat Politics Will Be Banned: Ashraf

CHITTAGONG, APR 2: LGRD and Cooperatives minister Sayed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday said that the politics of Jamaat-Shibir would be banned. “If the involvement of Jamaat-Shibir in the war crimes and anti-state activities are proved before the International Crime Tribunal (ICT), the politics of Jamaat-Shibir must be banned through legal process,” he added.

He alleged that the BNP chairperson, along with the Jamaat-Shibir, is playing a bloody game with taking the people of the country as hostages to save war criminals.“But, her conspiracy will never succeed,” he said, adding that the democratic and patriotic people of the country will resist the anarchy created by the opposition and the Jamaat-Shibir. He was speaking at the grand rally of the ruling 14-party alliance, held at the historic Laldighi Maidan in the port city on Tuesday afternoon.

The AL general secretary said that the young generation has raised the demand to ban the politics of the Islamist party for their involvement in war crimes. “They have the right to raise the demand and their demand is logical,” he added.

“But the government will have to act in accordance with the law and abide by the constitution,” Ashraful said, adding that the ICT act has been amended, including the provision of banning the politics of political parties involved in the crime against humanity. Referring to the war crimes trial in different countries, the minister said the political parties involved in war crimes had been banned in Germany, Italy and England. “The politics of Jamaat-Shibir will also face similar fate through legal process,” he assured.

He also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and AL have pledged to enact proper laws, form tribunals and launch the trial of war criminals if the party comes to power. “The AL has kept its pledges, the trial is on. The AL is also firm on implementing the verdicts passed by the ICT at any cost, because the AL always keeps its words,” he affirmed. “Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will keep her words and pledges even at the cost of her life, if necessary,” Ashraful said. Chaired by ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, president of the city unit of AL and former mayor, the rally was also addressed by industries minister Dilip Barua, Rashed Khan Menon, president of the Workers’ Party.

Courtesy: The Independent