BNP says appreciates High Court verdict on 15th amendment

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said it appreciates the High Court’s verdict that declared several provisions of the 15th amendment to the constitution, including the abolition of the caretaker government, invalid.

“We appreciate this verdict. The court acknowledged that parliament following an election is the sole forum for amending the constitution," Fakhrul told the media during a press conference in Dhaka on Thursday. 

The politician said the party’s standing committee believed that the 15th amendment had made extensive changes, modifications, inclusions and exclusions in 55 clauses across various articles, preambles and schedules of the constitution, transforming it into a tool for establishing one-party rule and undermining the democratic structure. 

It had harmed the fundamental framework of the constitution, compromising democracy, he added.

Fakhrul noted that the court had invalidated some significant portions of the amendment, preserved others and left most for consideration by the next parliament. 

“However, the petitioners, joining political parties and the general public had expected more decisive rulings from the court." 

He said the petitioners had sought a declaration rendering the entire 15th amendment illegal.

Fakhrul added that the BNP, other political parties and individuals had joined the petition as intervenors supporting the challenge.

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed was also present at the press conference.

The High Court on Tuesday nullified specific provisions of the 15th amendment to the constitution, enacted by the Awami League in 2011, reinstating the caretaker government system for conducting general elections.

The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury delivered the verdict in response to a writ petition.