The Election Commission has scrapped the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami, ruling them out from any election from now on.
The Islamists party opposed Bangladesh’s independence and many of its leaders face trials over or have been convicted of committing crimes against humanity during the War of Independence in 1971.
Jamaat, one of the major players of BNP-led 20-party Alliance, helped the collation, which was then 4-party Alliance, to assume the office from 2001 to 2004.
A gazette notification has been issued, signed by EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, on Monday (Oct 29).
It said the EC cancelled the party’s registration under the Sub Clause (4) of Article 90H of the Representation of the People Order, 1972 (RPO).
The move came more than five years after the High Court declared Jamaat’s registration illegal.
On Aug 1, 2013, an HC bench, by a majority, ruled that registration given to Jamaat by the Election Commission has been declared illegal and void.
However, the EC notification said, “following the HC verdict, registration of the party (Jamaat) has remained suspended in line with the RPO.’
“Jamaat applied for registration as a political party complying with the article 90(H) of the RPO and was granted it (registration no 014, date 4-11-2008),” it reads.
Speaking to media, EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said, “We issued the gazette after receiving the copy of the full verdict, which took us some time.”
Asked whether any instruction from the Appellate Division, the EC official said, “We have received the affidavit from the concerned advocate through an information slip of the Appellate Division."

"There is no stay order," he added.