DHAKA: State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku Thursday dropped a broad hint that the government could ban the politics of beleaguered Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its allied student organization Islami Chhatra Shibir.

He gave the significant indication to journalists after a core committee meeting at the secretariat with Home Minister Sahara Khatun in the chair.


The government move came hot on the heels of some major developments on the country’s political front, with three top Jamaat leaders, including its chief, detained in a number of cases.            

Tuku said if common people want ban on politics of the religious party, the government would walk that way.

He said the arrest of the Jamaat leaders was made on specific allegations.

Chiefs of intelligence organizations and law enforcers were also present at the meeting where the present law-and-order situation across the country figured high in discussion.

Replying to a question about the demand for release of the arrested Jamaat leaders by the main opposition BNP, he observed that the Jamaat men were involved in the anti-social and anti-state activities during the liberation war in 1971 but BNP awarded them after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“Relation with war criminals is natural for BNP, but it is unexpected for the people,” said the state minister.

He told the journalists that law-enforcing agencies have been put on high alert for the security of people’s life and property.

Besides, police chief Nur Mohammad warned “stern action would be taken if anyone tried to disturb the law-and-order situation over the arrest of Jamaat leaders”.  

BDST: 1905 HRS, 1 July 2010