Photo: Collected
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today reacted positively to the High Court's decision to declare unconstitutional the 15th amendment to the constitution that got rid of the non-party caretaker government system. BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the restoration of the caretaker government today fulfilled the people's expectations.
In an instant reaction to today's High Court ruling, Mosharraf said Sheikh Hasina scrapped the caretaker government system to serve her party's interests, paving the way for "one-party rule" and the eventual downfall of the Awami League government.
The people wanted it caretaker government, and our leader Khaleda Zia introduced the caretaker government in this country. Sheikh Hasina abolished the caretaker system for her party's interests, driving the country toward one-party rule and killing democracy.
"As a result, the Awami League government fell, and Sheikh Hasina was ousted from the country," he added.
"Elections were held under the caretaker government in Bangladesh, where the people voted three times and changed the government as per their will," he said, adding, "In 1991, BNP came to power; in 1996, the Awami League came to power; and in 2001, BNP returned to power again."
"Therefore, there is clear evidence that under the caretaker government, people in this country were able to vote freely," he said.
The BNP leader further said that the people have been fighting for the last 16 years for a caretaker government system. He accused the Awami League of violating the constitution to remain in power.
"The elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024 cannot be called elections; calling them elections would be wrong," said Mosharraf.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, on the other hand, congratulated the nation on the "restoration of voting rights". In a statement, Prof Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Jamaat and a former MP, termed the court's decision a significant victory for the people of Bangladesh.
"The 15th Amendment, passed on June 30, 2011, in the national parliament, had completely destroyed the people's voting rights and the electoral process," said Parwar.
"It created a tendency to seize power without elections, resulting in no genuine elections being held in 2014, 2018, and 2024. What occurred under the guise of elections was nothing but a farce. This amendment effectively destroyed democracy and the democratic process in the country."
Prof Parwar hailed the High Court's verdict as a milestone for democracy, stating that it re-established the rights of the people.
"This is another victory for the people. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and greetings to the nation for this achievement in restoring voting rights through a legal battle," he added.
Messenger/JRTarek
