The state will open initiatives to expedite the Supreme Court hearing on scrapping Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party, says Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.
“Jamaat’s registration was cancelled by the High Court,” he told the media on Sunday (Feb 17).
He added the matter, however, is still pending with the Appellate Division and the government cannot intervene in a sub-judice matter.
The state’s top legal officer said political parties have to be registered with the Election Commission for contesting polls.
“If anyone wants to continue politics without the EC’s approval then they would be defined as an underground and outlawed party, which the people will never accept.”
There have been continual calls for trying Jamaat as a party for war crimes that include genocide. It was slapped with seven charges of war crimes by investigators of the International Crimes Tribunal in 2014.
As for the call to ban Jamaat, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently told parliament that the party would be outlawed much the same way as it was de-registered as a political party following a court battle.
The Supreme Court has so far convicted seven top leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami with five of them already executed since war crimes trial began in 2010.
In 1971, the Jamaat opposed the 11-point movement and other demands when the struggle for Bangladesh's independence reached its peak.
The party and its erstwhile student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha raised several groups such as the Razakar, Al-Badar, Al-Shams to collaborate with the Pakistani occupation force.
They engaged in mass killing, rape, torture, looting and other war crimes during the war.
A court verdict has termed Jamaat-e-Islami a ‘criminal party’ saying those against the independence of the country should not hold office in any organisation in the country.