Bangladesh Professor: Islamists, Banned Groups More Active After Hasina Govt's Fall

Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka, admitted that Bangladesh's Islamist groups have more freedom after Sheikh Hasina left the country. Kalimullah, while speaking to ANI, said that several banned Islamist outfits are active in Bangladesh and are even holding press conferences."Of course. You know, Islamists, have succeeded in carving out a larger space in the public domain. And Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strengthened its position. Hefazat-e-Islam movement has become more strong. Personalities such as Peer of Charmoni has gained prominence. Even Hizb ut-Tahrir, they are an outlaw organization, but they're visible. They are coming up with leaflets, and posters, and also in different places they are waving their flags, they're marching in the streets even convened press conferences. So officially, this outfit is not a legal entity, and their media coordinator is behind the bar. So, officially the ban is still there but in reality they are functioning," he said.