Starting today, voters in Bangladesh will be able to cast their own ballots themselves. There will be no more voting at night, and no deceased person will be able to vote. This significant message was delivered by Attorney General Asaduzzaman.
At a press conference on Thursday (20 November), Attorney General Asaduzzaman said that the previous Appellate Division judgment, which had annulled the caretaker government system, has now been unanimously cancelled.
He said, “We submitted before the court that we have a legal principle known as the ‘applicability of law.’ Supreme Court judgments are delivered under Article 111. Any judgment is naturally retrospective unless explicitly declared prospective. The Appellate Division has given this judgment a prospective effect, meaning it will take effect after the next parliament is dissolved. As a result, the caretaker government system has been reinstated.”
The caretaker government system was introduced into the Constitution through the Thirteenth Amendment in 1976. With the latest verdict, it has been constitutionally restored. The Attorney General added, “The caretaker government is a supportive framework for democracy in Bangladesh. From today, citizens can vote with confidence—votes will be cast during the day, and there will be no possibility of deceased individuals voting. This is a significant step forward, like a democratic highway.”
He noted that although the old Fifteenth Amendment has been annulled, it is still pending at the Appellate Division. “Today’s verdict relates specifically to the amendment of the Thirteenth Amendment. It does not conflict with the Fifteenth Amendment or any other matters. This ruling will not affect past High Court judgments, and it will limit the scope for future reviews.”
He further stated that the verdict has been designed in the interest of democracy. If the case concerning the Fifteenth Amendment is rejected by the Appellate Division, it will proceed through a new process. However, today’s verdict is a “past and closed chapter,” establishing a clear framework for the upcoming elections.
With the caretaker government system now reinstated, voters in Bangladesh will be able to exercise their voting rights freely in the next election.