1 June set for verdict on Jamaat-e-Islami's appeal to regain party registration

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has set 1 June for the verdict on Jamaat-e-Islami's appeal to regain its cancelled registration as a political party.

Today (14 May), the appellate bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, fixed 1 June for the verdict after concluding the hearing.

Senior lawyer Ehsan S Siddiq and lawyer Md Shishir Monir represented the petitioner during the hearing which began around noon.

Earlier on 7 May, the Appellate Division had adjourned the hearing on the issue until 13 May.

The hearing on Jamaat's appeal began on 12 March 2025 but has since been deferred multiple times.

On 22 October last year, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court revived a previously dismissed appeal by the Jamaat-e-Islami, seeking to regain its registration as a political party. This move reopened the legal path for the party to fight for the restoration of its registration and its electoral symbol.

Earlier, on 1 September, the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division had set 22 October for the hearing on Jamaat's petition to revive the dismissed appeal.

Jamaat-e-Islami had filed the revival petition after its original appeal – challenging the cancellation of its registration – was dismissed by the Appellate Division.

On 1 August 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat's registration as a political party illegal and void, following the disposal of a writ petition. Subsequently, on 7 December 2018, the Election Commission formally cancelled the party's registration through a gazette notification. Jamaat later appealed the High Court verdict.

However, in November 2023, the Appellate Division, then led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, dismissed Jamaat's appeal for default as the party's principal lawyer failed to appear for the hearing. As a result, the High Court's verdict declaring Jamaat's registration illegal remained in effect.