The Supreme Court has upheld the High Court verdict that had declared Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party with the Election Commission as illegal.

The Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, on Sunday dismissed an appeal filed by the Islamist party challenging the High Court verdict.

On August 1, 2013, the High Court declared illegal the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami with the Election Commission.

The High Court came up with the verdict after Bangladesh Tariqat Federation’s Secretary General Rezaul Haque Chandpuri and 24 others filed a writ petition on January 25, 2009.

In the petition, they said Jamaat was a religion-based political party and it did not believe in the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.

On November 14, 2008, the Election Commission listed Jamaat as a registered political party in violation of the constitution and the Representation of People Order (RPO) Ordinance, 2008, petitioners said.