EC is positive, we’ll get back party registration, symbol: Jamaat leader Hamidur
Yesterday (1 June), the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, overturned the High Court verdict that had declared Jamaat’s registration as a political party illegal
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad has expressed optimism that the party will regain its registration and its electoral symbol, Scale (Daripalla).
"The court has ruled in our favour. The Election Commission is also positive. We will get our registration and party symbol back," he said while speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the EC headquarters in Dhaka's Agargaon today (2 June).
The meeting was held following yesterday's Appellate Division verdict that overturned a High Court ruling from over a decade ago, which had declared the Jamaat's party registration illegal.
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Referring to the judgment, Hamidur said, "The order has directed a return to the previous state. I contested in the 2008 ninth parliamentary election with the scales symbol and was elected as a Member of Parliament."
"The High Court's order that invalidated our registration and symbol has now been cancelled by the Supreme Court. So, there's no reason for the Election Commission to deny us the symbol or the registration now. The commission has not said otherwise, nor can they, as it would be against the court order," he added.
In response to another question, the former MP said, "You're saying our symbol isn't listed right now based on the current list. But before the High Court's order in 2013, we had both the symbol and the registration. Returning to the previous state automatically includes us back in the list. The rest is just official procedure."
When asked specifically about the EC's stance, he added, "They have responded positively. We are hopeful of regaining both the scales symbol and our party registration."
The Jamaat delegation at today's meeting included Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Central Media and Publicity Division; Central Executive Committee members Matiur Rahman Akand and Mobarak Hossain; Central Working Committee member Jasim Uddin Sarker; and senior lawyer Shishir Monir.
Yesterday (1 June), the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, overturned the High Court verdict that had declared Jamaat's registration as a political party illegal.
