The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing an appeal challenging its previous verdict that had scrapped the non-party caretaker government system.
A full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, started the proceedings. Advocate Sharif Bhuiyan was the first to present arguments, representing five prominent citizens.
Senior advocates Zainul Abedin and Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared for the petition filed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, while Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir represented Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman stood for the state. Advocate ASM Shahriar Kabir also joined the hearing on another related plea, reports BSS.
On 27 August 2025, the Appellate Division granted leave to hear the appeal against its 2011 ruling that had declared the 13th amendment to the constitution — which introduced the caretaker government system — unconstitutional.
The apex court made the decision after hearing several review petitions seeking to reinstate the 13th amendment and restore the caretaker government provision.
Four petitions were filed in total by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, five citizens including Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar, and another individual petitioner. All are being heard together.
Earlier, on 17 December 2024, the High Court had declared the removal of the caretaker government provision from the constitution illegal.
Following that verdict, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman told journalists that the caretaker government system remains part of the constitution.
