SC Adjourns Pivotal Hearing on Caretaker Government Abolition

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today, November 6, 2025, adjourned the hearing on the appeal challenging the abolition of the non-party caretaker government (NCG) system until November 11, 2025.

This adjournment was announced by the full bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, after concluding the ninth day of partial hearings on the complex constitutional matter.

The proceedings saw Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman continue placing his arguments before the apex court, assisted by Additional Attorney General Barrister Aneek R Haque. The state lawyers had begun their submissions on November 5, following the extensive arguments presented by advocates representing the petitioners.

Previous legal arguments were presented by Senior Advocates Zainul Abedin and Ruhul Quddus Kazal. They participated in the hearing from November 4 to November 5, with Advocate Abedin having commenced his submissions on October 29. Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir argued on behalf of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on October 28. Advocate Sharif Bhuiyan was the first to present arguments, representing five distinguished citizens, on October 21 and 22. Barrister Ehsan Abdullah Siddiq took part in the hearing as an intervener on October 23.

The current appeal stems from multiple review petitions filed against the SC's 2011 landmark verdict that declared the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which introduced the NCG system, unconstitutional and void.

The Appellate Division granted leave to appeal against that 2011 judgment on August 27, 2025. The four primary review petitioners being heard together are 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.

The urgency of the appeal is underscored by a recent High Court verdict, issued on December 17, 2024, which declared the abolition of the caretaker government system unconstitutional. Following that High Court judgment, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman had publicly stated that the ruling effectively restored the caretaker provision as part of the country's Constitution.