Jamaat says ban on its politics ‍‍`unconstitutional‍‍`

In its prompt reaction to the ban the government imposed on a ban on Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir, the Islamist party termed the move "unconstitutional".

Shafiqur Rahman, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, on Thursday rejected the decision in a statement sent to the media, calling it anti-constitutional, and denied it was behind the recent violence.

"The government has violated the constitution by banning ‍‍`Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami‍‍` and ‍‍`Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir‍‍`. We strongly condemn and protest this unconstitutional, undemocratic and unjust decision of the government,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a notification banning Jamaat- and Shibir under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, fulfilling a long-impending demand against the party that directly opposed Bangladesh‍‍`s independence.