‘Constitutional amendments to follow July Charter’

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman said on Thursday that any future amendments to the Constitution would be carried out in line with the July National Charter, after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld a High Court verdict that declared parts of the 15th Amendment unconstitutional and void.

The Appellate Division’s ruling, delivered earlier in the day, dismissed three separate appeals against the High Court judgment, effectively restoring both the caretaker government system and the provision for a referendum.

Briefing reporters at the ministry after the verdict, Asaduzzaman said a high-level committee would be formed to conduct a comprehensive review of the judgment with a view to amending the Constitution.

He said the government would address all 54 issues referred to in the verdict, with the July Charter serving as the primary reference point for the process.

“The necessary measures will be implemented in line with the July National Charter,” the minister said.

Caretaker government to oversee next election
Asaduzzaman said the next parliamentary election would be held under a non-partisan caretaker government, describing the restoration of the system as a reflection of the current government’s political, electoral and national commitment.

“At the same time, the restoration of the caretaker government system is the outcome of the BNP’s movement,” he said.

He credited the outcome to years of political struggle led by the BNP, saying, “The next election will be held under a caretaker government.

This is the outcome of the BNP’s 16 to 17 years of struggle. Under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia, the ‘Save the Country, Save the People’ movement was primarily aimed at ensuring that people could cast their votes freely.”

15th Amendment called “blueprint for fascism”
Asaduzzaman was sharply critical of the 15th Amendment, saying it had laid the groundwork for authoritarian rule by weakening democratic institutions.

“Through the 15th Amendment, a blueprint for fascism was drawn up by burying democracy in the country,” he said, adding that his side had long argued the amendment was “ultra vires” — unconstitutional.

He noted that the High Court had struck down certain provisions of the amendment while leaving other matters to the discretion of Parliament, and that the Appellate Division’s dismissal of the appeals had now made the High Court’s judgment final.

The minister said the final framework for the caretaker government system would be formulated through public consultation and a referendum, in accordance with the verdict.

The four-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, delivered three identical short judgments on the appeals, each stating simply: “Appeal is dismissed.”