Press Briefing at National Press Club, Dhaka by Hizb ut Tahrir regarding lifting the Illegal Ban on Hizb ut Tahrir by the Tyrant Hasina Government
Press Release
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Press Briefing at National Press Club, Dhaka by Hizb ut Tahrir regarding lifting the Illegal Ban on Hizb ut Tahrir by the Tyrant Hasina Government
Petitioners and concerned lawyers held a press conference today (Monday, September 9, 2024) at 3 pm at Abdus Salam Auditorium, National Press Club, Dhaka on the submission of petition to Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladesh for withdrawal of unjust ban imposed by tyrant Hasina government on Hizb ut Tahrir, Bangladesh. Advocate Noor Mohammad of Supreme Court read the written statement at the press conference and Mr. Imtiaz Selim, member of Hizb ut Tahrir answered various questions of the journalists, the summary of which is mentioned below:
On October 22, 2009, the Hasina government illegally banned the non-violent political party Hizb ut Tahrir through a press note only. The press note, without mentioning any memorandum number, SRO number and section of any law, termed the party’s activities as a ‘threat to public security’ and ‘against the law and order of the country’. However, no notice was served on the central office of Hizb ut Tahrir, Bangladesh at Siddique Mansion, 55/A Purana Paltan, Dhaka and Hasina’s tyrant government did not produce any evidence in support of the allegations. In fact, the Hasina government banned the party because of Hizb ut Tahrir‘s sincere and courageous stand against traitorous Hasina and in exposing the Indian conspiracy in the 25th February 2009 massacre of army officers in Pilkhana. Thinking of the welfare of the country and its defence force, Hizb ut Tahrir stood bravely against the fascist Hasina government and conducted a series of campaign activities including mass distribution of leaflets, discussion meetings, rallies and marches to expose their conspiracy. On 28 February 2009, Hizb ut Tahrir was the first to expose the conspiracy of India and the Hasina government by issuing a leaflet titled: “Protest Indian conspiracy to destroy army and BDR and government’s inaction”. Having failed to deal with Hizb ut Tahrir politically, the authoritarian Hasina government has used ‘banning’ as a tool to suppress the party. The ban imposed by the tyrant Hasina was illegal and against the constitution of Bangladesh. Additionally, the tyrant Hasina government listed Hizb ut Tahrir without any prior notification in the Anti-Terrorism Act 2013 (2), which is illegal and inconsistent with Section 18(1) of their black law called the Anti-Terrorism Act. As a result, the conscious sections of the society strongly condemned the shameless decision to ban Hizb ut Tahrir at that time. In a sub-editorial in the daily Naya Digant newspaper, prominent intellectual Mr. Farhad Mazhar strongly criticized the government: “…the government has not explained why Hizb ut Tahrir is becoming a threat to public security. They have not even presented any evidence”. Mr. Mahmudur Rahman, the acting Editor of Newspaper Daily Amar Desh, on October 29, 2009, in a comment report on the front page of Daily Amar Desh under the title “When agenda is to suppress the difference of opinion”, strongly condemned and protested the government for banning Hizb ut Tahrir. The International Human Rights Organization has also protested against such illegal bans, stating in its October 2009 human rights report that: “…the banning of Hizb ut Tahrir without providing any evidence is contrary to the traditional practice of orderly and peaceful political activity, and revealed the undemocratic attitude of government …”.
We call upon to the interim government to think deeply about the significant role played by Hizb ut Tahrir in the last 15 years of tough political struggle and the movement against the tyrant Hasina. Due to taking a strong stance against the oppression of Hasina’s fascist government, numerous activists of the party have suffered terrible torture and made many sacrifices. However, the party has always played a sincere and courageous role in protecting the sovereignty of the country. Also, we welcome speedy lifting of the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami. Jamaat-e-Islami was the latest victim of the tyrant Hasina government’s ban, where we were their first victim and we have been helplessly suffering untold suffering for the last more than a decade. It is now up to them whether they separate yourselves from the tyranny of the Hasina government by ensuring fairness and justice. Since this government emerged from the student movement, it is their responsibility to reflect the will of the people and immediately lift the illegal ban on Hizb ut Tahrir.
Finally, Hizb ut Tahrir thanked the journalists present and requested them to raise the issue of the removal of this illegal and unjust ban to the Advisory Council of the current Interim Government and Hizb ut Tahrir expects the current interim government to establish justice by lifting the illegal ban on Hizb ut Tahrir.
Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Bangladesh