Bangladesh court restores caretaker government system for elections
Bangladesh's Supreme Court has unanimously reinstated the nonpartisan caretaker government system for power transitions, overturning a 2011 ruling. The system will take effect after the next parliament completes its term, addressing a key demand of opposition parties for neutral election oversight.
Bangladesh's Supreme Court has delivered a landmark ruling reinstating the system of nonpartisan caretaker governments to oversee national elections, a decision that addresses a longstanding demand from opposition parties in the politically turbulent South Asian nation. The unanimous verdict overturns a 2011 court decision that had abolished the mechanism during former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration.
Implementation Timeline
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman clarified that the restored system will become operational "within 15 days of the dissolution of the next parliament." While the upcoming parliamentary election will be conducted under the current interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, subsequent national elections will be administered by the reinstated caretaker government framework, according to the Appellate Division's ruling.
Overturning Previous Ruling
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed delivered the verdict that nullified the court's own 2011 decision issued during Sheikh Hasina's tenure, which ended last year when she fled to India amid student-led protests. The new ruling came after the court considered appeals and review petitions from various political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as independent organizations and individuals.
Political Context and Reactions
The caretaker system was originally introduced in 1996 to ensure neutral oversight during election periods. Its abolition under Hasina's government had prompted major opposition parties to boycott the 2014 and 2024 national elections, alleging vote rigging and partisan interference. BNP Senior Advocate Zainul Abedin welcomed the restoration, stating "The entire nation is happy today with the new decision as their voting rights were fulfilled." The court's decision follows a December ruling that found the constitutional changes eliminating the caretaker system had damaged Bangladesh's democratic foundation.
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