Mancha hails HC verdict

The Ganajagaran Mancha has hailed the High Court verdict declaring illegal Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration with the Election Commission.

In an instant reaction to the verdict, Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker said on Thursday: “The judgment proves that Jamaat’s constitution is anti-democracy and Jamaat is a terrorist and militant organisation.”

One of the main demands of the Mancha, formed to press capital punishment for war criminals, is that the Jamaat be outlawed.

Sarker said: “Now the Jamaat needs to be fully banned from Bangladesh’s politics as soon as possible.”

The High Court’s Thursday verdict, which came upon a writ petition filed by several Islamist parties, may prevent the party from contesting the forthcoming parliament election due at the end of this year or early next year.

The bench of justices M Moazzam Husain, M Enayetur Rahim, and Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque delivered the verdict, which was also hailed by several organisations and political leaders.

The Jamaat opposed Bangladesh's independence and collaborated with the Pakistani military effort to suppress it, as has been observed by war crimes tribunals.