Jamaat-Shibir must be banned through political consensus if necessary: Nurul Haque

Nurul Haque, State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and president of Gono Odhikar Parishad, has said Jamaat-Shibir must be banned by creating political consensus if necessary. He said Awami League had banned Jamaat-Shibir. The interim government lifted that ban. Now the elected government will have to think about the matter. If necessary Jamaat-Shibir like extremist organisations will have to be banned by creating political consensus.

Nurul Haque went to Dhaka Medical College Hospital to see Chatra Odhikar Parishad leader Sohanur Rahman who was injured in a clash with Jamaat-Shibir in Kushtia in the afternoon on Thursday (August 20). He made these remarks while talking to journalists in front of the hospital later.

Mentioning that the activities of Awami League have been banned on charges of genocide in the 2024 mass uprising Nurul Haque said even more horrific genocide, looting and mass rape took place in 1971 and Jamaat-Shibir also needs to be banned for these. He also commented that if Jamaat-Shibir is not banned extremism may raise its head in the country and Bangladesh’s image may fall into crisis globally.

The state minister said the United Nations has said Al-Qaeda may target Bangladesh and they may carry out such activities through Jamaat-Shibir. He also claimed that Jamaat-Shibir creates cadres who operate arms.

Mentioning that Jamaat-Shibir remained oppressed during the Awami League government but has turned into an oppressive organisation in the last six months he said this extremist group will have to be resisted and countered from now on otherwise they will spread like a virus and bring harm to society and the country.

Commenting that Jamaat-Shibir and Awami League are the same type of fascists the president of Gono Odhikar Parishad said Awami League became fascist after getting the opportunity while the kind of rampage Jamaat-Shibir has carried out even without getting the opportunity has brought their past history of throat-slitting, rape and occupation to the fore.

Nurul Haque also alleged that Jamaat wants to achieve political interests by creating pressure on the current government. He said Jamaat wants to occupy various financial institutions including Islami Bank and attempts are underway to give shares to their people in these institutions. In his words they actually want a share of power and they must not be given that opportunity in any way because if they get the opportunity they will bring a terrible catastrophe for the nation.

Criticising the speech of Amir Hamza in waj and Friday sermons Nurul Haque said if there is hatred, division and vulgar matters in the speech the people will have to resist it. Criticising the party for issuing a statement in favour of Jamaat secretary general Amir Hamza he said this proves that Jamaat is supporting the perverted mentality of Amir Hamza. Claiming that the moral degradation of Jamaat has been proved through the activities of Amir Hamza, Satkhira parliament member Nazrul Islam and other leaders and activists of the party he said it will be a farce if Jamaat still claims itself as an Islamic party after these activities. He called for removing the word Islam from the name of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Nurul Haque claimed that Jamaat-e-Islami has started various kinds of venom-spitting against the current government within six months out of the desire to come to power.