The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on 20 November regarding the appeal seeking the reinstatement of the election-time caretaker government system.
After 10 days of hearings, during which all petitions from the parties were carefully reviewed, a seven-member bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has set the date for this landmark decision.
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman continued his arguments before the apex court on the previous hearing day (6 November). He, along with Additional Attorney General Barrister Aneek R Haque, began placing arguments on 5 November.
Senior Advocates Zainul Abedin and Ruhul Quddus Kazal took part in the hearing on 4 November and continued till 5 November. Advocate Abedin had begun his submissions on 29 October.
Earlier, Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir argued on behalf of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on 28 October, while Advocate Sharif Bhuiyan was the first to present arguments on 21 October, on behalf of five distinguished citizens, and continued the following day.
Barrister Ehsan Abdullah Siddiq also took part in the hearing as an intervener on 23 October.
On 27 August, 2025, the Appellate Division granted leave to appeal against its 2011 verdict that declared the 13th Amendment, which introduced the caretaker government system unconstitutional.
The court passed the order after hearing multiple review petitions seeking reinstatement of the 13th Amendment and revival of the caretaker system.
A total of four review petitions were filed-by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, five prominent citizens including SUJAN Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, and an individual petitioner. All the petitions are being heard together.
Earlier, on 17 December, 2024, the High Court had declared the abolition of the caretaker government system unconstitutional.
After the High Court verdict, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman told reporters that the ruling effectively restored the caretaker provision as part of the Constitution.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
