DHAKA: Bangladesh’s main Islamist party was yesterday barred from contesting next year’s election as judges declared its charter breached the secular constitution, sparking sporadic violence in the volatile nation.
Amid tight security outside the court in central Dhaka, a panel of judges ruled in favour of a long-running petition which argued that Jamaat-e-Islami should never have been allowed to register as a political party.
“It (Jamaat’s registration) is hereby declared illegal,” said Moazzem Hossain, the Senior Judge hearing the case, reading out the brief verdict. Secular protesters gathered outside the court flashed victory signs. The election commission said the ruling meant Jamaat could not stand in a general election scheduled for January.
Jamaat’s lawyers immediately appealed the verdict, as party activists took to the streets of Dhaka and some dozen towns and cities elsewhere in the country, blocking roads and attacking vehicles, police said.
Senior police officer Syed Abu Sayem said the ruling triggered violence just outside the northern city of Bogra as scores of Jamaat supporters burnt a bus and damaged several cars.
A lawyer for the election commission, which oversees preparations for next year’s polls, 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,” Shahdeen Malik said. “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.
Police and members of the elite Rapid Action Battalion were deployed outside the court, ahead of the verdict, amid fears the ruling could trigger fresh protests by Jamaat supporters in a country already reeling from violence over war crimes verdicts passed on Jamaat’s top leadership.
Religious as well as several secular organisations filed public interest litigation in January 2009 seeking to scrap Jamaat’s registration just days after a secular government took power.
The petitioners argued that Jamaat’s charter violates the country’s secular constitution as it calls for the rule of Allah and discriminates against minorities and women.
Defence lawyer Tajul Islam said Jamaat lodged an appeal, and was seeking a suspension of Thursday’s judgement pending a hearing in the Supreme Court.
Senior Jamaat official Abdullah Taher said the party was shocked by the decision. He said the court had bowed to pressure from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s secular government.
“We are stunned. The ruling reflects the will of the government,” Taher said. “The ruling will further destabilise the country,” he said, accusing the government of persecuting the party ahead of the elections. More than 100 people have been killed in political violence since a tribunal hearing allegations of war crimes dating back to the 1971 civil war began handing down sentences at the start of the year, including against senior Jamaat figures. Agencies
