Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister, Obaidul Quader, on Tuesday (July 30, 2024) said that the government will thoroughly examine the legal aspects before banning Jamaat-Shibir to ensure this “extremist group” cannot exploit legal loopholes to engage in politics in Bangladesh. Quader made this statement at a meeting held at Awami League’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital this morning. He also called on the Home Minister to ensure that no innocent person is arrested. Jamaat-e-Islami to be banned by tomorrow: Law Minister “The law enforcement agencies are identifying criminals based on footage. No innocent person is being detained. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed that general students should not be harassed. Yet, BNP Secretary General (Fakhrul) is shamelessly lying, claiming that innocent and helpless students are being detained,” said the Awami League General Secretary. He further said that BNP-Jamaat used students as shields in their movement, adding, “The government is aware of the sources of their instructions, incitements, and funding. There is no longer any opportunity to confuse the nation with nonsense.” The meeting began with prayers and a moment of silence in memory of those killed and injured in the recent violence across the country. Notable attendees at the meeting included Awami League Presidium members Dr. Abdur Razzaq, Advocate Kamrul Islam, Dr. Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Dr. Dipu Moni, and presidents and general secretaries of Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units of Awami League, Dhaka district Awami League, and affiliated organizations. Decision to ban Jamaat-Shibir taken at 14-party alliance meeting: Obaidul Quader

Police Wednesday said they filed a case against 150 leaders and activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir over the attack on the law enforcers in Rajshahi city as a reaction to the arrest of the party's chief. Ariful Islam, sub-inspector (SI) of Boalia Model Police Station, filed the case against 16 named and 134 unnamed people at the police station Tuesday night. Boalia Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mazharul Islam said they have so far arrested six people, including the chief of Shah Makhdum Thana unit chief. "Efforts are on to arrest others." Read more: Arrest warrants issued against Jamaat chief, 11 others in sabotage case A clash broke out Tuesday when the Awami League men intercepted a procession brought out by Jamaat and Shibir in the Darikharbona area to protest the arrest of their party chief Md Shafiqur Rahman. As result, a clash broke out between the two parties. At that time, two law enforcers sustained injuries while trying to disperse the Jamaat and Shibir men, Mazharul said.

Some locally made arms and leaflets of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir were recovered from one of the locked rooms of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College on Tuesday. However, no one could be detained in this connection as this room had been locked for a long time. Nazmul Hossain, general secretary of the Awami League’s student front Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at the college unit, said acting on-a tip off they came to know that Shibir men hoarded local weapons and political leaflets in a room on the third floor of the college hostel. Read more: BCL factional clash leaves eight injured at Chattogram College “Police seized axes, hockey sticks, cricket stumps, some other local arms, leaflets and other books belonging to the Shibir politics, when we along with general students were on to recover these,” he said. “The practice of politics by the Shibir was banned following the murder of Dr Soumitra on the campus, but now they seem to be more active under several banners,” he said. Mohammad Ali Mahmaud, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model police station, said they recovered the weapons and other instruments after the BCL men found them. Read more: BCL politician's murder: Fugitive accused held in Dhaka He said they would take legal action if the hospital authority files a case in connection with the recovery of arms and other things.  

Police on Thursday arrested 14 suspected leaders and activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir along with cocktails and gunpowder from a madrasa hostel in the municipality area of Sadar upazila.