Election Commission decides to restore Jamaat’s registration, electoral symbol

The Election Commission (EC) has decided in principle to restore Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party and return its electoral symbol - the weighing scales - following court orders.

The decision came at a meeting of the commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday.

Attended by four election commissioners, the meeting took place at the Nirbachan Bhaban, or Election Building, in Agargaon.

Later, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, said: “The Election Commission has taken an in-principle decision –- Jamaat will get back its party registration and electoral symbol. However, completing the official process [to return] the party symbol will take time.”

Once the EC procedures are complete, Jamaat will regain its political registration and electoral symbol after over a decade.

The High Court verdict that had cancelled Jamaat’s registration during the tenure of the Awami League government has now been overturned.

The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and comprising four judges, delivered the verdict on Sunday after hearing the party’s appeal.

In its order, the top court said the EC, as a constitutional body, would now proceed with the matter.

In light of the court’s directive, the commission sat for the meeting at 3pm to decide the course of action.

The meeting also reviewed steps taken in response to recent court orders on Jamaat and BNP leader Ishraque Hossain.