Jamaat ban hinges on court verdict, says PM

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina told Parliament on Wednesday that the government has nothing to do right now to ban Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party as a case in this regard remains pending with the court, report agencies.
"There's a case now pending with the court over banning Jamaat. We perhaps can do nothing here until the court delivers the judgment in the case," she said.
The PM said this while replying to a supplementary question from Bangladesh Tariqat Federation Chairman Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary MP (Chattorgram-2).
The PM expressed the hope that the Jamaat will be banned as soon as the court passes its judgment.
Having failed to fulfill the conditions of registration, Jamaat lost its registration with the Election Commission, which is a prerequisite to participating in an election as a political party, she noted.
However, it is a matter of regret that when Jamaat is not registered, Jamaat men became candidates with 'Sheaf of Paddy' in the last general election being united with BNP, the PM said.
She expressed her gratitude to the people of Bangladesh for not voting for them. "The people of Bangladesh completely rejected them (Jamaat men)," she added.
She mentioned that 62 per cent physical work on the project has already been completed.
Replying to a starred question from Awami League MP Shafiqul Islam Shimul (Natore-2), Hasina said she considers the premiership as a responsibility, not a matter of enjoyment.
"The premiership is not a matter of enjoyment to me; rather it's a responsibility and definitely a difficult responsibility."
Talking about the MP's remark that she made a rare record being elected Prime Minister for the third consecutive term, the Prime Minister said she does not do politics for making record.
In reply to another question from ruling party MP Mahfuzur Rahman (Chattogram-3), she cited various reasons behind Awami League's landslide victory in the last general election.
Hasina said the people elected Awami League with huge votes in the free, fair and participatory election on December 30.
"This victory was expected," she said.
Such prediction was made in the reports of different local and foreign surveys before the election, she added.
She also said the people benefited due to government's development works done in the last 10 years, and electricity reached almost all villages.
Without mentioning the name of Jatiya Oikyafront, the PM said if the rivals are strong, the competition intensifies. "It didn't seem to me that those who were our main rivals had any preparation and strategy," she said.
Responding to a starred question from AL MP Bazlul Haque Haroon (Jhalakati-1), Hasina said the government will formulate a plan to coordinate all research activities by establishing a flagship university at the national level in the near future.
In reply to a starred question from Jatiya Party MP Rustum Ali Faraji (Pirojpur-3), Hasina said all-out efforts are on to complete work on the Padma Bridge by December next although it took additional time for redesigning some pillars.