Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today termed the Supreme Court verdict restoring the election-time caretaker government system a “historic milestone”, saying the ruling has reopened the path for free and fair elections in the country.

The party welcomed the verdict at an emergency press conference held at its central office in Moghbazar following the announcement made earlier in the day by the Appellate Division, which upheld the constitutionality of the 13th amendment and reinstated the caretaker system.

The seven-member bench was headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed.

Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General, Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, said the earlier decision that scrapped the caretaker system was “controversial and politically motivated”.

“The abolition of the caretaker system allowed Sheikh Hasina to establish an authoritarian rule,” he said.

Zubair added that Jamaat’s former Ameer, Prof Ghulam Azam, had first proposed the theoretical foundation of the caretaker government system.

“His farsighted proposal has prevailed today. The elections held without a caretaker government remain marked as tainted episodes in our history. This verdict will help democracy return to its rightful course,” he said.

He said the party expects the interim government to play a responsible role in ensuring a free, participatory and neutral national election.

“If there is any attempt to engineer another stage-managed election as in the past, Jamaat, together with the people, will resist it,” he said.

Calling the verdict “the beginning of a new era for neutral elections”, Zubair said citizens had long awaited the system’s return. “This decision will strengthen democracy and safeguard the people’s voting rights,” he added.

Central leaders, activists and supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami were present at the press conference.BSS