Bangladesh’s main Islamist party was banned from contesting next year’s election when the high court ruled on Thursday that Jamaat-e-Islami’s charter breached the country’s secular constitution.
“It is hereby declared illegal,” said Moazzem Hossain, the chief judge hearing the case amid tight security outside the courthouse in Dhaka.
A lawyer for the Bangladeshi election commission, which oversees preparations for elections due next January, said the ruling meant Jamaat could not field candidates.
“As a party Jamaat’s registration with the election commission is declared illegal, with the consequence that they cannot contest the election as a political party,” said Shahdeen Malik.
“The party can still carry on with other political activities. If it amends its charter, to bring it in conformity with the constitution and reapplies for registration, it can be re-registered,” Malik added.
There were fears ahead of the ruling that it could trigger fresh protests by Jamaat supporters in the politically volatile country, already reeling from violence over war crimes verdicts passed on Jamaat’s top leadership.