Jamaat-e-Islami’s Registration
The Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court has overturned a decade-old verdict that had declared Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party illegal.
This significant ruling, issued on Sunday by a four-member bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, effectively reinstates the party’s right to operate as a registered political entity. The decision comes as a result of an appeal filed by Jamaat-e-Islami against the 2013 High Court verdict that invalidated its registration with the Election Commission (EC).
The original case dates back to a 2009 writ petition submitted by Maulana Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri of the Bangladesh Tariqat Federation and 24 others. The High Court ruled in 2013 to revoke Jamaat’s registration, citing constitutional and legal grounds. As a result, the Election Commission delisted the party in 2018, barring it from contesting in the 11th national election.
However, Jamaat-e-Islami appealed the decision to the Appellate Division, which began hearing the case on December 3, 2023. After months of legal proceedings, the Supreme Court has now ruled in favor of Jamaat, directing the Election Commission to resolve any remaining procedural matters, including the restoration of the party’s electoral symbol.
In response to the ruling, Jamaat’s lawyer Barrister Ehsan A Siddiq confirmed that the party’s registration has been legally restored. He noted that the party would soon approach the EC to complete the necessary steps for its full political reinstatement.
Following the court’s verdict, the Ameer (chief) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, issued a public statement expressing deep gratitude. “Alhamdulillah, we thank Almighty Allah for this victory,” he said. “After more than a decade of legal battles and political persecution, Jamaat has reclaimed its rightful place in Bangladesh’s democratic system.”
He described the ruling as not only a legal victory but also a triumph for justice and democracy. According to Dr. Rahman, Jamaat had been legally registered with the EC since November 4, 2008, and had participated in national elections in compliance with all rules and procedures, including the use of its traditional “scale” (Daripalla) election symbol.
Dr. Rahman also thanked the legal team, supporters, and intellectuals who stood by the party throughout the legal ordeal. He stated that the verdict opens a new chapter for political pluralism in Bangladesh, allowing voters a broader range of choices in upcoming elections. “This ruling will, InshaAllah, bring a new dimension to the political landscape of our country,” he said.
The restoration of Jamaat’s registration is bound to stir political debate in Bangladesh, especially given the party’s controversial past. One of Jamaat’s most prominent leaders, Motiur Rahman Nizami, was executed in 2016 after being convicted by a controversial war crimes tribunal for alleged atrocities during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The execution was widely criticized by international human rights organizations, who questioned the fairness of the judicial process.
With its legal status restored, Jamaat-e-Islami is poised to return to active political participation — a move that could reshape Bangladesh’s electoral dynamics ahead of the next national elections.
