Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party has been postponed hearing of the appeal against the High Court’s verdict declaring it illegal. This appeal will be heard on November 19. Apart from this, the application for banning Jamaat-e-Islami’s political program and the contempt of court complaint has also been scheduled for hearing on the same day.
A bench of 5 judges headed by Chief Justice Md. Obaidul Hasan gave this order on Sunday (November 12) in view of the application made by Jamaat’s lawyer seeking 8 weeks time to hear the appeal.
Earlier, the Appellate Division fixed November 12 for the hearing of Jamaat-e-Islami’s leave-to-appeal on November 6. On the same day, the contempt of court petition filed against the leaders of the Jamaat and the petition for ban on the gatherings of the party was also fixed. Accordingly, the applications come up for the Appellate Division’s docket today.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s lawyer AJ Muhammad Ali today requested eight weeks’ time due to his personal problems. Barrister Tania Amir and lawyer Ahsanul Karim were the lawyers for the petition for ban on Jamaat’s political program and contempt of court. Attorney General AM Amin Uddin was representing the state in the court.
On June 26, an appeal was filed in the Appellate Division seeking a ban on holding all kinds of political programs including processions and gatherings of the party until the final settlement of the case related to the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami. Advocate Tanya Amir filed this appeal in the Chamber Court of Appellate Division on behalf of Maulana Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri. Apart from this, Maulana Rezaul Haque Chandpuri filed another petition alleging contempt of court for holding a rally and demanding registration while the case was pending in the court. It was also filed by Barrister Tanya Amir.
After this application, barrister Tanya Amir said, ‘We have made two applications. One is that after 10 years, the Jamaat has carried out the program even after the High Court verdict remained in force. We have asked for a ban on all kinds of political programs of Jamaat. Another contempt of court. Because they have demanded the return of registration through political programs, where there is contempt of court. However, according to the judgment of the High Court, their registration is illegal.
The Election Commission (EC) registered Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party on November 4, 2008. Challenging the validity of this registration, 25 persons including the then General Secretary of Tariqat Federation Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri filed a writ petition in 2009. On August 1, 2013, a three-member bench of the High Court declared the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party invalid based on the final hearing of the writ. A writ of certiorari is granted against the judgment. Later that year, Jamaat’s secretary general filed an appeal in the Appellate Division against the High Court’s verdict. On December 7, 2018, the Election Commission issued a notification canceling the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
