Registration of Islamist party restored in B'desh

New B'desh banknotes replace ousted premier's father portrait

- Agence France-Presse

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Sunday restored the registration of the largest Islamist party, allowing it to take part in elections, more than a decade after it was removed under the now-overthrown government.

The Supreme Court overturned a cancellation of Jamaat-e-Islami's registration, allowing it to be formally listed as a political party with the Election Commission. "The Election Commission is directed to deal with the registration of that party in accordance with law," commission lawyer Towhidul Islam told AFP.

Jamaat-e-Islami party lawyer, Shishir Monir, said the Supreme Court's decision would allow a "democratic, inclusive and multi-party system" in the Muslim-majority country of 170 million people. "We hope that Bangladeshis, regardless of their ethnicity or religious identity, will vote for Jamaat, and that the parliament will be vibrant with constructive debates," Monir told journalists.