Bangladesh begins walking on democratic highway: AG
NN ONLINE:
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman has said the Supreme Court’s historic verdict restoring the non-party caretaker government system marks the beginning of what he described as a “journey on democratic highway” for the country.
Talking to journalists on the court premises after the judgment today, the AG said the verdict paved the way for ensuring that the people of Bangladesh will be able to cast their votes freely in the coming days.
“From now on, people will cast their votes. There will be no more incidents of stuffing ballots before the election, and no deceased person will come up at a polling centre to give vote. We believe the nation is now moving to a genuine democratic highway,” he said.
Asaduzzaman while making government submission during the hearing on the Caretaker Government alleging that former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque and his colleagues had committed offences under Section 219 of the Penal Code while writing the earlier judgment that abolished the caretaker government system.
“The court has now corrected that error,” he said, adding that the verdict reflected the aspirations of the people for free, fair and transparent elections.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court earlier in the day reinstated the caretaker government system, allowing several civil appeals filed in this connection. However, the caretaker government provision will apply for future elections.
On August 27, 2025, the Appellate Division granted leave to appeal against the judgment of the Appellate Division scrapping the non-party caretaker government system in 2011. The caretaker government system had been introduced through bringing 13th Amendment to the constitution in 1996.
The court passed the order after hearing multiple review petitions seeking reinstatement of the 13th Amendment and revival of the caretaker system.
A total of four review petitions were filed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar; five prominent citizens, including SUJAN Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar; and another individual petitioner. All petitions were heard together.
Earlier, on December 17, 2024, the High Court had declared the abolition of the caretaker government system unconstitutional.