As Sheikh Hasina faces charges, Bangladesh Supreme Court lifts ban on Jamaat-e-Islami days after ATM Azharul Islam walks free

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in Bangladesh on Sunday lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, reinstating its registration as a political party. This comes days after the court acquitted Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War on May 28.

The apex court in its Sunday ruling directed the election commission to implement the order without delay, allowing Jamaat-e-Islami to legally contest polls. The national elections in the restive country has been delayed as the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus have been calling for implementation of reforms.

Jamaat-e-Islami was declared illegal by the Bangladeshi High Court on August 1, 2013, following which the election panel cancelled the party's registration on December 7, 2018.

ATM, the tainted politician who was released from prison on May 28, was sentenced to death by the country's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in 2014. The 73-year-old who was the commander of the Al-Badr militia during the 1971 war helped the Pakistan army in suppressing the revolution. He was put on death row for orchestrating the Jharuarbeel massacre in April 1971, when 1,256 civilians were killed in Bangladesh's Rangpur.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, which was rejigged by the Yunus government, ordered his release on May 27. Five other convicts in the case, including four Jamaat leaders and one BNP leader, have already been hanged.

On May 27, journalist Shafik Rehman, who allegedly conspired to abduct and kill ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, was also acquitted.

This comes as Bangladesh officially charged Hasina and two other officials over "crimes against humanity" by violently cracking down on the student protests in 2024.

Calling the killings planned, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said the case includes 81 witnesses and cited evidences against her. "The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising. Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," Islam said.

According to the UN, around 1,400 people were killed in the crackdown on Bangladesh student protests.

Responding to that charges against Hasina and her banned Awami League, the party's General Secretary Obaidul Quader condemned the "deliberate and fabricated misinformation campaign" staged by the "illegitimate, fascist, and militant-backed Yunus regime".

"They lack both the constitutional mandate and public support. This fascist group has imposed itself on the state like a heavy stone through deception and manipulation," he added.

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