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News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Bangladesh Political Parties Tell Yunus To Hold Election By December 2025
Last Updated: During the meeting, most parties reportedly expressed their preference for holding general elections within December 2025. Amid the ongoing tensions in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, held a meeting on Monday. The meeting conducted to discuss the future of Bangladesh's electoral process was attended by representatives of over 20 political parties. During the meeting, most parties reportedly expressed their preference for holding general elections within December 2025. 'I have listened to everything you all have said. This is a meeting of the Unity Commission, and it is our duty to ensure that we work together in a spirit of unity." The Jamaat-e-Islami also joined the call, demanding that elections be held 'at the earliest." However, the party is likely to raise objections over the presence of a Buddhist temple image in official materials shared during the meeting. The meeting comes days after former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) intensified pressure on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government by staging a massive rally demanding elections by December. advetisement 'The national election must be held by December. Preparations must begin immediately," BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman said as he joined the rally through a virtual platform from London. 'In the past, all caretaker governments held fair elections within three months. Today, it's been over 10 months and yet, the government has not even announced the date of the election," Rahman said. The Chief Adviser Yunus-led interim government took charge after political turmoil in the nation forced former premier Sheikh Hasina to resign in August last year. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : bangladesh Muhammad Yunus First Published: June 02, 2025, 20:51 IST
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
Jamaat-e-Islami makes a comeback in Bangladesh: Why it's bad news for India
With Bangladesh's Supreme Court restoring Jamaat-e-Islami's political registration, the controversial Islamist party is poised to return to mainstream politics after a decade-long ban. Given its anti-India stance, historical ties to Pakistan and support from student radicals, what does this mean for New Delhi? read more Supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami occupy street of Matijheel area to hold a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, October 28, 2023. File Image/Reuters Bangladesh's Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to restore the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), a right-wing Islamist party that had been barred from contesting elections since 2013. The ruling follows nearly a decade-long legal struggle mounted by the party, which had been disqualified by a High Court verdict deeming it incompatible with the country's constitution. The final ruling now enables JeI to once again operate as a recognised political entity and potentially contest future elections. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The decision to restore JeI's registration came after the interim government under Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus assumed power in the aftermath of violent anti-government protests that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. JeI had backed the protests under the platform Students Against Discrimination (SAD), alongside other parties. Soon after the change in administration, the Yunus-led government lifted the ban on Jamaat, allowing the party to reposition itself in the mainstream political sphere. The Election Commission has been tasked with deciding whether the party may resume using its traditional 'scale' symbol. This legal victory was accompanied by another controversial development. The apex court recently overturned the conviction of JeI leader ATM Azharul Islam, who had previously been sentenced to death in 2014 for genocide, rape, and murder during the 1971 Liberation War. The court's decision to acquit Islam, a figure once found guilty of crimes against humanity, further cemented JeI's return to legitimacy. The party's counsel, Mohammad Shishir Manir, said: 'Today concludes the decade-long legal battle. We hope Bangladesh will have a vibrant parliament after this verdict. We hope voters will vote for the Jamaat candidate of their choice now.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The acquittal was welcomed by interim law adviser Asif Nazrul, who credited the July-August 2024 mass movement's leadership for 'creating the scope for establishing this justice.' With JeI's legal and political standing restored, it has now begun an active rebranding campaign ahead of national elections. Why Jamaat-e-Islami is controversial JeI has long had a polarising presence in Bangladesh's political landscape. The party's predecessor, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, openly opposed Bangladesh's independence in 1971 and collaborated with the Pakistan Army in its brutal crackdown on the civilian population of East Pakistan. Many of its leaders and activists were found to have participated in atrocities, including mass killings and sexual violence. Following Sheikh Hasina's return to power in 2009, her administration launched legal proceedings against individuals accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces during the war. These efforts were undertaken by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD), which found several JeI leaders guilty. The convictions were upheld by the Supreme Court, leading to the execution of six senior Jamaat figures and one senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) member. JeI's links to regional instability are another cause for concern, especially for neighbouring India. During the BNP-JeI coalition government, which held power in the early 2000s, Indian insurgent groups operating in the northeast were reportedly allowed to operate from Bangladeshi soil. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This changed when Sheikh Hasina came to power and took steps to dismantle insurgent networks, handing over several key figures to Indian authorities. Indian security analysts have also noted JeI's history of receiving backing from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The party, along with its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, has been accused of spreading radical ideologies and fanning anti-India sentiment within Bangladesh. Chhatra Shibir was a key participant in the protests that led to Hasina's fall in 2024, and it has continued to function as the party's grassroots mobilisation tool. Recently, it faced backlash after an article in its magazine Chhatra Sangbad described Muslim participation in the 1971 Liberation War as 'a failure' and 'a lack of foresight.' Though the group later apologised, the BNP's student wing distanced itself. What this means for India The Islamist party maintains a pro-Pakistan stance and advocates for the establishment of an Islamic state in Bangladesh. This ideological position poses a direct challenge to India's interests, especially as it coincides with attempts to foster closer ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan under the Yunus government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, JeI's re-entry into politics may offer a gateway for Pakistan to reassert its influence in Dhaka's policymaking circles. Yunus has publicly expressed an interest in strengthening ties with Islamabad, a move that dovetails with JeI's longstanding foreign policy leanings. Indian observers worry that this alignment could weaken India-Bangladesh cooperation on a range of issues including counterterrorism, border security and regional connectivity. The threat extends beyond rhetoric. JeI leaders have met with international delegations to advance controversial proposals. In a recent meeting in Dhaka with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) representatives led by Peng Jiubin, Director-General of the Southeast and South Asian Affairs Bureau, JeI suggested the creation of an independent Rohingya state. According to NDTV, such a move could destabilise the region further, particularly in the context of escalating conflicts along Myanmar's borders, including the rise of the Arakan Army. India, which has invested heavily in regional connectivity initiatives like the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the Sittwe Port in Myanmar, could find these efforts undermined. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These projects are crucial for improving access to India's northeast and enhancing links with Southeast Asia. Any disruption caused by radical shifts in Bangladesh's foreign policy posture or by increased Islamist activism could directly impact India's strategic interests. Are BNP and Jamaat still allies? Although the BNP and Jamaat were long-time allies, recent developments suggest their alliance is under strain. The BNP has distanced itself from JeI since the latter's re-entry into politics and has opposed several of its initiatives, including views expressed on the 1971 war and electoral strategies. One key point of divergence is the timeline for elections. While the BNP has insisted on holding elections by December 2025, Jamaat has shown willingness to allow the interim government to extend its term. This has been interpreted as Jamaat seeking more time to consolidate its political revival. Despite not securing a majority in past elections, JeI has often played the role of kingmaker, influencing political outcomes through strategic alliances. Its renewed legitimacy, coupled with a weakened Awami League — which has been disbanded pending trial for its crackdown on the 2024 protests — raises concerns about a potential reshaping of Bangladesh's political landscape along more radical lines. With inputs from agencies
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Bangladesh opens trial of deposed prime minister
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A special tribunal set up to try Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina began proceedings Sunday by accepting charges of crimes against humanity filed against her in connection with a mass uprising in which hundreds of students were killed last year. The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal directed investigators to produce Hasina, a former home minister and a former police chief, before the court on June 16. Hasina has been in exile in India since Aug. 5, 2024, while former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan is missing and possibly also in India. Former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah al Mamun has been arrested. Bangladesh sent a formal request to India to extradite Hasina in December. State-run Bangladesh Television broadcast the court proceedings live. Hasina and her Awami League party had earlier criticized the tribunal and its prosecution team for their connection with political parties, especially with the Jamaat-e-Islami party. In an investigation report submitted on May 12, the tribunal's investigators brought five allegations of crimes against humanity against Hasina and the two others during the mass uprising in July-August last year. According to the charges, Hasina was directly responsible for ordering all state forces, her Awami League party and its associates to carry out actions that led to mass killings, injuries, targeted violence against women and children, the incineration of bodies and the denial of medical treatment to the wounded. The charges describe Hasina as the 'mastermind, conductor and superior commander' of the atrocities. Three days after Hasina's ouster, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took over as the nation's interim leader. The Yunus-led administration, which has already banned the Awami League party, amended relevant laws to allow for the trial of the former ruling party for its role during the uprising. In February, the UN human rights office estimated that up to 1,400 people may have been killed in Bangladesh over three weeks in the crackdown on the student-led protests against Hasina, who ruled the country for 15 years. The tribunal was established by Hasina in 2009 to investigate and try crimes involving Bangladesh's independence war in 1971. The tribunal under Hasina tried politicians, mostly from the Jamaat-e-Islami party, for their actions during the nine-month war against Pakistan. Aided by India, Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina's father and the country's first leader. In a separate development, Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Sunday cleared the path for the Jamaat-e-Islami party to regain its registration as a political party after a decade — a decision that would enable the party to take part in elections. The country's top court overturned a previous High Court verdict and said it is now up to the Election Commission to formally restore the registration of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party and its election symbol. Yunus said his administration would hold the election by June 2026, but the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Hasina's archrival, wants the election to be held in December this year. The relation between Zia's party, which is the largest in absence of Hasina's party, and the Yunus-led government has recently been frosty over the poll schedule.
2 days ago
- Politics
Bangladesh opens trial of deposed ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
DHAKA, Bangladesh -- A special tribunal set up to try Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina began proceedings Sunday by accepting charges of crimes against humanity filed against her in connection with a mass uprising in which hundreds of students were killed last year. The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal directed investigators to produce Hasina, a former home minister and a former police chief before the court on June 16. Hasina has been in exile in India since Aug. 5, 2024, while former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan is missing and possibly also in India. Former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has been arrested. Bangladesh sent a formal request to India to extradite Hasina in December. State-run Bangladesh Television broadcast the court proceedings live. Hasina and her Awami League party had earlier criticized the tribunal and its prosecution team for their connection with political parties, especially with the Jamaat-e-Islami party. In an investigation report submitted on May 12, the tribunal's investigators brought five allegations of crimes against humanity against Hasina and the two others during the mass uprising in July-August last year. According to the charges, Hasina was directly responsible for ordering all state forces, her Awami League party and its associates to carry out actions that led to mass killings, injuries, targeted violence against women and children, the incineration of bodies and denial of medical treatment to the wounded. The charges describe Hasina as the 'mastermind, conductor, and superior commander' of the atrocities. Three days after Hasina's ouster, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took over as the nation's interim leader. The Yunus-led administration, which has already banned the Awami League party, amended relevant laws to allow for the trial of the former ruling party for its role during the uprising. In February, the U.N. human rights office estimated that up to 1,400 people may have been killed in Bangladesh over three weeks in the crackdown on the student-led protests against Hasina, who ruled the country for 15 years. The tribunal was established by Hasina in 2009 to investigate and try crimes involving Bangladesh's independence war in 1971. The tribunal under Hasina tried politicians, mostly from the Jamaat-e-Islami party, for their actions during the nine-month war against Pakistan. Aided by India, Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina's father and the country's first leader. In a separate development, Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Sunday cleared the path for the Jamaat-e-Islami party to regain its registration as a political party after a decade — a decision that would enable the party to take part in elections. The country's top court overturned a previous High Court verdict and said it is now up to the Election Commission to formally restore the registration of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party and their election symbol. Yunus said his administration would hold the election by June next year, but the Bangladesh Nationalist Party headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Hasina's archrival, wants the election to be held in December this year. The relation between Zia's party, which is the largest in absence of Hasina's party, and the Yunus-led government has recently been frosty over the polls schedule.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
He sided with Pakistan in Bangladesh's liberation war. Why is ATM Azharul Islam then out of jail and receiving a hero's welcome?
He sided with Pakistan in Bangladesh's liberation war. Why is ATM Azharul Islam then out of jail and receiving a hero's welcome? Team TOI Plus May 30, 2025, 19:56 IST IST The acquittal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, accused of mass murder and rape in the 1971 war, once again highlights how terrorists and religious extremists are being granted leniency under the Yunus-led administration On May 28, hundreds of Jamaat-e-Islami workers and supporters gathered in Dhaka to welcome their leader, ATM Azharul Islam , following his release from prison. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh recently acquitted Azharul, 73, overturning the death sentence previously handed down by the country's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
