Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing on Jamaat-e-Islami’s appeal against a High Court decision that annulled its registration with the Election Commission as a political party for May 13. This decision was announced today by a full bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, as stated by Jamaat’s attorney, Mohammad Shishir Manir.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the hearing on Jamaat’s appeal commenced on March 12 of this year, following a crucial development in October when the Appellate Division reinstated its previously dismissed appeal. Initially, the appeal was slated for hearing on September 1, a date determined by the Chamber Judge’s Court of the Appellate Division.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration was revoked after the High Court declared it illegal on August 1, 2013. Subsequently, the Election Commission formalized the cancellation of the registration with a notification on December 7, 2018. Jamaat contested the High Court’s ruling, but their appeal was dismissed in November by a six-member bench of the Appellate Division under the leadership of then Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan due to the absence of the party’s lead counsel, thereby upholding the High Court’s verdict.
During a period of political unrest, the government led by Sheikh Hasina imposed a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated student organization, Islami Chhatra Shibir, on August 1, in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, amidst a fervent anti-discrimination student movement. The Home Ministry later issued a notification implementing the ban, though this decision was overturned on August 28, with a new notification subsequently issued to withdraw the ban.