Jamaat gets back registration with 'scales' symbol
The decision removes all legal barriers preventing Jamaat from participating in national elections
The Election Commission (EC) has reinstated the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with the symbol of the scales (Dāripalla)
The commission issued a notification in this regard today (24 June).
The decision removes all legal barriers preventing Jamaat from participating in national elections.
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"Following the Appellate Division's dismissal of a petition by the High Court Division, the Election Commission's notification issued on 28 October 2018, which had cancelled the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, is hereby revoked. As a result, the party's registration along with its electoral symbol is reinstated," reads the EC notification.
The notification further stated that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami had applied for registration as a political party under the Representation of the People Order, 1972. In line with Article 90B of the order, the party was registered on 5 November 2008 through a notification issued by the Election Commission Secretariat.
The notification also mentioned that the party's registration was cancelled following a verdict passed by the High Court on 28 October 2018.
Earlier on 4 June, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah told reporters that the party symbol of scales was cancelled in 2016 based on a full court decision of the court. "This was an administrative letter that the then Election Commission received through the registrar and took this action in light of it."
"But the application of Jamaat-e-Islam has come to us along with a writ petition and its order. The writ petition was filed in 2006. An appeal was filed in this regard stating that the scales cannot be a symbol of any party, as it is a symbol of justice in the court. The court dismissed that appeal at that time and said that using it as an election symbol will not in any way detract from the standard of the court," the commissioner further explained.
On 1 June, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has overturned a High Court ruling that had declared the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party illegal.
The court has also directed the Election Commission (EC) to reinstate the party's registration.
The history of Jamaat's registration has been long and complicated.
After the High Court's 2013 ruling, the Election Commission formally cancelled Jamaat's registration through a gazette notification on 7 December 2018. Jamaat later appealed this decision, but in November 2023, the Appellate Division, led by then Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, dismissed the party's appeal as its lawyer failed to appear for the hearing.
In October 2024, the Appellate Division revived the dismissed appeal, paving the way for Jamaat to argue its case once more. Hearings resumed on 13 May this year and concluded on 14 May, leading to today's final verdict in favour of Jamaat's reinstatement.
