SC Upholds Cancellation Of Jamaat’s Registration

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday (November 19) upheld a High Court verdict that had earlier declared the registration of Jammat-e- Ismami as a political party unconstitutional.

A five-judge bench chaired by chief justice Obaidul Hassan dismissed Jamaat’s appeal against the HC verdict as the party' lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali was not present during the hearing.

The High Court in 2013 delivered the verdict after hearing a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Tariqat Federation secretary general Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, and 24 leaders of the federation, Zaker Party, and Sammilita Islami Jote.

Tariqat, a political ally of the ruling Awami League, had filed the writ petition on January 25, 2009 challenging the constitutionality of Jamaat’s registration with the Election Commission on November 4, 2008.

The Bangladesh Tariqat Federation in June 2023 filed a petition with the Appellate Division seeking a contempt of court ruling against the Jamaat-e-Islami and top police officers for allowing the Jamaat to hold political activities, including meetings, public rallies and processions, using its name or banner in violation of the High Court verdict.

A total of 42 eminent citizens, including freedom fighters, writers, academicians and family members of martyred freedom fighters also filed another petition seeking to become a party in the Jamaat’s case to oppose the case.

On November 12, the Appellate Division on rescheduled its hearing to November 19 on an appeal filed by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami against a High Court verdict that declared the party’s registration with the Election Commission as a political party as ‘unconstitutional’.

The Appellate Division on November 6 deferred the hearing until November 12.

Tariqat’s lawyer Tania Amir has been demanding an expeditious hearing on the appeal and the contempt petition as the Appellate Division deferred the hearings on four occasions between January 16, 2023 and August 2, 2023.