SC hears caretaker govt appeals for seventh day

The Supreme Court’s full appellate bench has continued its seventh day of hearings on appeals seeking to restore Bangladesh’s caretaker government system during national elections, a pivotal case that could reshape the country’s political framework ahead of the next polls.

The seven-member bench headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed on Tuesday heard arguments from senior lawyer Ruhul Kuddus Kajal, representing the BNP, while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman appeared for the state.

The hearings, which began on October 21, have seen several major political and civil society petitioners present their cases, including Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Parwar.

The court reopened the debate after granting permission in August to appeal the 2011 verdict that had annulled the 13th constitutional amendment, which established the caretaker government system in 1996.

The amendment had ensured neutral, non-partisan administrations to oversee general elections, but it was struck down in 2011 by the then Appellate Division as unconstitutional.

Following that ruling, the Awami League-led government passed the 15th amendment, allowing elections to be held under an incumbent government.

Three subsequent national elections were held under that system, until the government’s overthrow on August 5, 2024, through a student-led uprising.