Bangladesh Bans Jamaat-e-Islami Amid Nationwide Unrest

Bangladesh has banned the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing under anti-terrorism law due to public security concerns. The decision follows deadly protests over government job quotas. The ban was confirmed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and follows a resolution by the ruling Awami League-led coalition.

Bangladesh on Thursday banned the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir under an anti-terrorism law, citing threats to public security amid nationwide unrest.

The Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification confirming the ban on the Islamist party, a key ally of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

The decision follows deadly nationwide student protests over quotas in government jobs, during which at least 150 people were killed. The government accused Jamaat-e-Islami of exploiting the movement.

The ban comes after a meeting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League-led 14-party alliance, which passed a resolution to prohibit Jamaat from politics.

This recent ban reinstates a measure from 1972 when Jamaat-e-Islami was initially prohibited for 'misusing religion for political purposes.'

(With inputs from agencies.)