The Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court on Sunday overturned a High Court verdict that had declared Jamaat-e-Islami's registration with the Election Commission (EC) as a political party "illegal."
A four-member bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed issued the ruling in response to an appeal filed by Jamaat challenging the 2013 High Court decision.
According to Bangladesh media reports, the apex court also directed the Election Commission to address the remaining issues related to Jamaat, including the reinstatement of its election symbol and any other procedural matters.
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Following the verdict, Jamaat's lawyer Barrister Ehsan A Siddiq told The Daily Star that the party’s registration has now been reinstated. He added that the party would soon submit an application to the EC for further decisions regarding its political participation.
Jamaat’s registration was first revoked by the High Court on August 1, 2013, following a writ petition filed in 2009 by Maulana Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri of the Bangladesh Tariqat Federation and 24 others. The EC subsequently delisted the party in October 2018 ahead of the 11th national election.
Jamaat filed an appeal with the Appellate Division, and the court began hearing the case on December 3 last year.
The Supreme Court’s verdict now clears the way for Jamaat-e-Islami to regain its formal status as a registered political party in Bangladesh, subject to final administrative steps by the Election Commission.
Bangladesh JI's Ameer reaction
Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, issued a statement on June 1, expressing gratitude to the Almighty Allah for the Bangladesh Supreme Court's Appellate Division order that restored the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
In the statement, he said: "On June 1, through a unanimous verdict by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has regained its registration.
We express our heartfelt gratitude to the Almighty Allah — Alhamdulillah. After more than a decade of legal battles and struggles, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has finally regained its rightful status as a political party. This verdict marks the end of another chapter of oppression and persecution. We are satisfied with this judgment of the Appellate Division."
He further stated that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami participated in national elections by abiding all procedures and regulations with the "scale" (Daripalla) symbol, both before and after the implementation of the ‘Registration of Political Parties Act- 2008’. In every participatory national election, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami had significant representation.
He added that on November 4, 2008, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was duly registered with the Election Commission following all necessary procedures.
However, a certain vested group filed a writ petition on January 25, 2009, at the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court asking to cancel Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration.
On August 1, 2013, the Honorable High Court Division canceled the party's registration through a split verdict. In response, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami filed an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the High Court’s order. Today, the Honorable Appellate Division, in a unanimous verdict, granted the appeal and ordered the restoration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration. Once again, we express our gratitude to Almighty Allah — Alhamdulillah.
He also conveyed his heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all the respected lawyers, intellectuals, and well-wishers who supported them throughout the lengthy legal process in various ways.
He concluded by saying, “Today’s verdict has ensured justice and created an opportunity for the people to exercise their voting rights. We hope this judgment will bring a new dimension to the political landscape of Bangladesh, InshaAllah.”
Who was Motiur Rahman Nizami?
In 2016, Bangladesh executed the leader of the country's largest Islamist party for alleged war crimes, officials said, a move set to exacerbate tensions in the volatile Muslim-majority nation.
Motiur Rahman Nizami, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged at a prison in the capital Dhaka, just days after the nation's highest court dismissed his final appeal to overturn the death sentence for so-called ‘atrocities’ committed during the country's 1971 war.
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