Jamaat regains registration, election symbol

Bangladesh's Election Commission has officially restored the political registration of Jamaat-e-Islami, along with its historical electoral symbol, after a Supreme Court verdict overturned a previous High Court ruling that had led to the party’s deregistration.

The development was confirmed through a gazette notification signed by Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, issued on Tuesday (June 24).

According to the notification, Jamaat had originally received registration as a political party under Article 90B of the Representation of the People Order, 1972 through a gazette issued on November 5, 2008 (Registration No. 014). However, this registration was cancelled on October 28, 2018, following a High Court ruling in Writ Petition No. 630 of 2009, which declared the party's charter in violation of constitutional provisions.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, through Civil Appeal No. 139 of 2013 and Civil Petition for Leave to Appeal No. 3112 of 2013, has since overturned the High Court decision, effectively reinstating Jamaat’s registration as a political party.

In response, the Election Commission formally revoked its 2018 deregistration order and reinstated the party’s status and electoral symbol, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive.