The Appellate Division has overturned the High Court’s verdict that canceled the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party. However, the Election Commission (EC) has been directed to decide on the party’s election symbol, ‘Dariyapala’.

The verdict was announced on Sunday (June 1) by a four-judge bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed. The highest court of the country nullified the previous High Court ruling.

Jamaat’s legal team in court included Barrister Ehsan Abdullah Siddique, Barrister Imran Abdullah Siddique, Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir, Barrister Nazib Momen, and Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem.

Earlier, on May 14, the hearing on Jamaat’s appeal to restore its canceled registration and party symbol concluded. The verdict date was set for June 1.

The appeal hearing began on March 12. On October 22, 2024, the Appellate Division revived Jamaat’s canceled registration, opening the legal path for the party to regain both its registration and the ‘Dariyapala’ symbol.

On August 1, 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat’s registration illegal and canceled it. Later, on December 7, 2018, the Election Commission issued a notification officially canceling the party’s registration.

Jamaat appealed the High Court verdict, but in November 2024, the Appellate Division, led by then Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, dismissed the appeal for default, upholding the High Court’s cancellation order until the recent reversal.