Next national election will be held under caretaker govt: Law minister

Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman has said that the next national parliamentary election  will be held under a non-partisan caretaker government system.

He made the remarks at a press conference held at the Ministry of Law at the Secretariat on Thursday afternoon.

The law minister said, “Restoring the caretaker government system is our political commitment. The next election will be held under a caretaker government system. However, whether it will be a caretaker government or an interim government will be decided after considering the opinions of people from all sections of society.”

He also said that necessary steps would be taken through constitutional amendments, giving priority to the July Charter.

Md. Asaduzzaman said that the court’s verdict addressed 54 issues and that steps would be taken on all 54 matters while prioritizing the July Charter. He added that public aspirations had been fulfilled in at least four areas through the verdict.

“The verdict will be implemented keeping in mind the Supreme Court’s decision and the expectations of the people,” he said. He also announced that the National Human Rights Commission Act would be placed in the next session of parliament.

Earlier on Thursday morning, the Appellate Division upheld a High Court verdict that declared several provisions introduced through the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, including the abolition of the caretaker government system, illegal. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by the Chief Justice, delivered the verdict.

Following the ruling, lawyers said that provisions for a referendum and a caretaker government system had been restored to the Constitution.

The Supreme Court had earlier, on November 13 last year, granted leave to appeal against the High Court verdict that declared the abolition of the caretaker government system and several other provisions of the 15th Amendment illegal. The order was issued by the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed.

Before that, a leave-to-appeal petition was filed on November 3 last year challenging the High Court verdict. The appeal sought the cancellation of the entire 15th Amendment Act.

The appeal was filed by lawyer Dr. Sharif Bhuiyan on behalf of Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan).

On December 17 last year, the High Court declared the abolition of the caretaker government system and several other provisions of the 15th Amendment illegal. The court also restored the provision for a referendum in the Constitution. However, the verdict did not completely repeal the 15th Amendment Act.