The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has reinstated the party registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and reallocated its traditional election symbol, the "scales" (dārīpalla).
The decision was formally announced on Tuesday through an official notification from the Election Commission.
Jamaat-e-Islami had its registration cancelled in 2013 following a High Court verdict that declared the party’s charter in conflict with the country`s constitution, particularly regarding secularism.
As a result, Jamaat was barred from contesting elections under its banner or using its long-standing "scales" symbol.
The party’s influence significantly declined after the cancellation of its registration and the execution of several of its top leaders who were convicted of war crimes committed during Bangladesh`s 1971 Liberation War.
Since then, Jamaat has been largely absent from electoral politics, although it remained active through protests, social work, and political alliances, particularly with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
In recent months, Jamaat had petitioned the Election Commission for the restoration of its registration and the right to participate in the political process under its own identity and symbol. Following legal reviews and internal deliberations, the EC has now granted their request.
This development paves the way for Jamaat to participate independently in upcoming elections, marking a significant return to formal politics after more than a decade of exclusion.
The decision is expected to have wide-ranging impacts on Bangladesh’s political landscape, especially ahead of future national polls.
