The law minister, Anisul Huq, on Sunday said Jamaat-e-Islami should not be termed guilty until the party is convicted.
The minister came up with this remark at a ‘Meet the Reporters’ event held at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on Sunday morning.
In the question-answer session, a newsman asked the minister, "While you are amending the act to ban the Jamaat-e-Islami [as a political party], you have given them space to take to the streets by allowing them to hold a rally [in Dhaka] after 10 years. A political party has been trying to hold a rally at the engineering institute at Ramna [in Dhaka] for a month. But instead of approving their request, you have permitted Jamaat-e-Islami to arrange a gathering there. Isn’t that contradictory?"
The law minister replied that he doesn’t think it as contradictory. Jamaat should not be termed guilty until the verdict is delivered. Until the verdict is delivered, he cannot say Jamaat is banned.
Visa policy shameful
The minister said there are enough documents in the international crime tribunal to try Jamaat-e-Islami under as a party of war criminals. The act regarding the issue will be sent to the cabinet division within a few days.
When asked about the permission, Anisul Huq said it was taken from the home ministry, so the home ministry should be asked about the matter.
When a newsman asked the minister about the meeting with Peter Haas, he said "[I have] told Peter Haas that it is definitely shameful for Bangladesh. No matter what action is taken or against whom. Even if it is taken against the opposition party, it will be shameful."
He also told the ambassador that the government is not worried about the visa policy. The government has pledged to hold a free, fair and neutral election.
