Bangladesh’s Supreme Court ordered the Election Commission on Sunday to restore the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, overturning a 2013 ban imposed by the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The June 1 ruling clears the path for the Islamist group to participate in future elections, which are expected to take place by June 2026.
The Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, directed the commission to reinstate the party’s legal status. However, it deferred to the Election Commission (EC) the decision on whether Jamaat-e-Islami may use its traditional “scale” symbol in elections. The EC originally revoked the party’s registration in 2018 following a High Court ruling, citing its opposition to Bangladesh’s 1971 independence from Pakistan.
The decision follows the May 27 acquittal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam by the same court. Islam had been sentenced to death in 2014 by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal for rape, murder, and genocide committed while supporting Pakistani forces during the 1971 war. The interim government’s law adviser, Asif Nazrul, welcomed Islam’s release, crediting the “July-August 2024 mass movement leadership” for enabling judicial review.
Jamaat-e-Islami sought reinstatement after Hasina’s ouster in August 2024 amid violent anti-government protests organized by groups including Students against Discrimination (SAD). A UN report estimated 1,400 deaths during the crackdown. Party lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir gave the statement, “Today concludes the decade-long legal battle. We hope Bangladesh will have a vibrant parliament after this verdict. We hope voters will vote for the Jamaat candidate of their choice now”.
The interim government, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, disbanded Hasina’s Awami League in May pending trials over its suppression of the 2024 protests. With the Awami League excluded, its rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has emerged as a dominant political force, though it has distanced itself from Jamaat-e-Islami. The war crimes tribunal is now preparing cases against senior Awami League figures for alleged crimes during last year’s unrest.