Press Release
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Hizb ut Tahrir has submitted Petition to the Interim Government to Lift the Unlawful Ban on the Party imposed by the Tyrant Hasina Government
On September 5, 2024, Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Bangladesh has submitted petition to the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs to lift the tyrannical ban imposed on the party by the tyrant Hasina government. On October 22, 2009, Hasina government banned the non-violent organization Hizb ut Tahrir under the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009 by falsely and maliciously labelling the party’s activities as ‘threat to public security’ and ‘against law and order of the country’. However, the fascist regime provided no iota of evidence to support such claim.
In fact, the tyrant Hasina government banned the party because of the party’s sincere and brave stance to expose the Indian conspiracy and Hasina’s betrayal in the gruesome Pilkhana massacre that took place on 25 February 2009. Adopting the interest of the country and its brave military, the party showed courage to stand against the fascist government and started massive leaflet distribution and series of campaigns exposing the conspiracies. On February 28, 2009, the party issued a leaflet titled: “Raise your voice against the Indian conspiracy to destroy the army and the border guards, and the government’s inaction“, exposing India and Hasina government’s plot against our military and sovereignty. Unable to challenge the party politically, the treacherous regime started to take revengeful measures against the party activists and eventually banned it on October 22, 2009 through ‘a mere press note’, labeling the party as ‘terrorist’. This ban was by the tyrant Hasina government which was unlawful having no basis whatsoever in law and constitution. Because, to ban any political organization under terrorism act in Bangladesh, it has to be under clause 18(1) of the anti-terrorism law, 2009. But the tyrannical government issued no gazette notification under the said clause of the act for the banning of Hizb ut Tahrir. Furthermore, no complaints had ever been lodged by police and no cases had been proved in the court against the activists of Hizb ut Tahrir in relation to ‘threat to public security’ and ‘law and order of the country’ since the party’s inception in Bangladesh in 2000 till 2009. Yet, the then tyrant government illegally banned the party fearing its massive popularity within the people. Moreover, the tyrant government started to suppress the party through massive arrests, torture and forced disappearances of its activists without giving any opportunity to the party to take legal assistance in its defense. Thus, back then, the aware sections of the society condemned the shameless decision to ban Hizb ut Tahrir. In a sub-editorial of the daily Naya Diganta newspaper, prominent intellectual Mr. Farhad Mazhar severely condemned the government: “…. the government did not explain as why Hizb ut Tahrir is becoming a threat to the public security. They did not even produce any proof”. Mr. Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the daily Amar Desh newspaper, published an op-ed titled “when agenda is to suppress dissent” on October 29, 2009 and harshly condemned the government for banning Hizb ut Tahrir. Prominent international humanitarian organization like ‘Odhikar’ also protested against such illegal banning. In its October 2009 Humanitarian report, it published: “…The banning of Hizb ut Tahrir without showing any evidence goes against the traditional norms of normal and peaceful political activities and unmasks the undemocratic attitude of the government…”.
We, Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Bangladesh, call upon the interim government to deeply reflect upon the struggle of Hizb ut Tahrir over the last 15 years and its significant role in the movement against tyrant Hasina. Countless activists of the party suffered and sacrificed a lot to stand firm against the oppression of the fascist regime. Yet the party has always remained sincere and courageous to protect the sovereignty of the people. Also, we welcome you for the prompt execution to withdraw the ban on Jamat-e-Islami, who was the latest victim of the tyrant Hasina government, whereas we were their first one enduring suffering helplessly for over a decade. It is now up to you to distinguish yourself from the previous government’s fascism by ensuring fairness and justice. Since your government arose out of a peoples’ movement, it is your duty to reflect the wishes of the masses and lift the unlawful ban on Hizb ut Tahrir with immediate effect.
Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Bangladesh