Jamaat’s appeal to regain registration and symbol verdict on June 1
The appeal hearing of Jamaat-e-Islami to regain registration and symbol has concluded. The Appellate Division has set June 1 as the date for announcing the verdict
On Wednesday (May 14) afternoon, a 4-judge appeal bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed has set this day for the verdict.
Earlier, on Tuesday (May 13), a full-fledged appeal bench of 7 judges led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed held a hearing from 10 am. The hearing was later adjourned until Wednesday.
Barrister Ehsan Abdullah Siddique heard the case on behalf of Jamaat. He was assisted by Barrister Imran Abdullah Siddique, Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir, Barrister Najib Momen.
The appeal hearing to regain Jamaat-e-Islami’s cancelled registration as a political party began on March 12. There was no further hearing after that. Later, on May 7, lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir filed a petition in the court for an urgent hearing of Jamaat’s registration case.
On October 22 last year, the Appellate Division revived the dismissed appeal to restore Jamaat-e-Islami’s cancelled registration as a political party. As a result, the way was opened for Jamaat to fight the legal battle to regain its registration and party symbol, the scales. At that time, a four-judge appellate bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed gave the order.
Barrister Ehsan A. Siddiqui and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir argued for Jamaat in the court. Advocate on Record Ali Azam argued for the writ petitioner.
Earlier, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami had filed a petition in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court to revive the dismissed appeal to restore Jamaat-e-Islami’s cancelled registration as a political party.
Disposing of a writ petition, the High Court declared Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration cancelled and illegal on August 1, 2013. Then, on December 7, 2018, the Election Commission (EC) issued a notification canceling the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Later, Jamaat-e-Islami appealed against the verdict in the High Court. However, as Jamaat’s main lawyer was not present at the appeal hearing against the High Court verdict, the six-judge Appellate Division headed by the then Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan ordered the dismissal of the appeal as ‘dismissal for default’ in November 2023. As a result, the High Court’s verdict declaring Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party illegal remained in effect. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina’s government banned Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir on August 1 during the anti-discrimination student movement. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification banning Jamaat, Chhatra Shibir and their other affiliate organizations under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act. However, on August 28, the decision to ban Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir was revoked and a notification was issued.
