The National Citizen Party (NCP) has described the court ruling on the reinstatement of the caretaker government system as “historic.” However, the party has raised questions over whether the caretaker government will be formed as per the 13th Amendment or in accordance with the July Charter, as the ruling has not clarified this.
The party emphasises that the July Charter must not be disregarded.
NCP’s Member Secretary Akhter Hossen made these remarks during a press conference at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, on Thursday evening.
He criticised the Hasina government for abolishing the caretaker government system and holding unilateral elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024, which, according to him, opened the door to authoritarianism in the country.
Calling the verdict a historic step, Akhter said, “Through this, the judiciary and the nation have been freed from the disgraceful rulings given during the Hasina government’s tenure.”
He added that during the Consensus Commission, all anti-authoritarian political parties had agreed that the caretaker government system would be reinstated as a peaceful mechanism for transferring power, a principle established in the July Charter.
However, Akhter noted, the Charter’s order on this matter remain unclear.
He highlighted the central question raised by the court’s verdict: whether the caretaker government will be formed as per the 13th Amendment or according to the July Charter.
“The government has not clarified this ambiguity. The attorney general has stated it will follow the July Charter, but various parties, especially the BNP, are advocating a return to the 13th Amendment. That framework has historically created political crises and situations like the 1/11 scenario. Therefore, rather than leaving it entirely to the judiciary, forming the caretaker government as outlined in the July Charter remains the most suitable method for a peaceful transfer of power. There is no room to deviate from this,” he stressed.
The press conference was attended by NCP senior joint convener Samantha Sharmin, senior joint secretary Tasnim Jara, and other central leaders.
