Bangladesh: Supreme Court restores Islamist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami's registration

The Bangladeshi Election Commission has been directed to implement the order without any delay.

The Appellate Division of the apex court left the matter of the symbol to the discretion of the Election Commission.

On Sunday, a four-member Appellate Bench headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed delivered the verdict, overturning the previous High Court judgment on the matter, reported The Dhaka Tribune.

In 2013, the Bangladeshi High Court had declared Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration illegal.

Following that, on December 7, 2018, the Election Commission issued a gazette officially cancelling Jamaat's registration, the Bangladeshi newspaper reported.

The hardline party had later appealed to the High Court's ruling.

The group once again applied for the restoration of registration after the former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government toppled amid severe protests on August 5, 2024.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman Welcomes Order

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has welcomed the order restoring the party's registration.

He told Dhaka Tribune: “On June 1 (Sunday), the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court restored Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration through a unanimous verdict. Alhamdulillah, after over a decade of legal battle, the party has regained its rightful status. This verdict ends a long chapter of injustice, and we welcome the ruling with satisfaction.”

Bangladeshi SC Acquits ATM Azharul Islam

The court gave the decision on Sunday just days after Bangladeshi Supreme Court has acquitted Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, who was facing a death sentence for a war crimes case related to the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.

The death sentence was handed down to him by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

The Supreme Court overturned that order.

The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by a full bench of seven justices of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, following the hearing of Azhar’s appeal, reported  Dhaka Tribune.

The court ordered his immediate release if no other case is pending against him.

As per the chargesheet, he was accused of killing 1,256 people, abducting 17, and raping 13 women during the 1971 Liberation War in Rangpur area.

He is also accused of torturing people and setting several houses on fire.