Next General Election to Be Held Under Caretaker Government, Says Law Minister

Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman has said that Bangladesh's next general election will be held under a caretaker government following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a High Court ruling restoring the constitutional provision for a non-party interim administration.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Thursday, the minister said the restoration of the caretaker government system was a political commitment of the government and would be implemented before the next parliamentary election.

"God willing, the next election will be held under a caretaker government. This has been our political commitment, and the caretaker government system is the outcome of the BNP's movement," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld a High Court verdict declaring unconstitutional several provisions introduced through the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, including the abolition of the caretaker government system.

Referring to the verdict, the law minister said the 15th Amendment had become a burden on the people of Bangladesh and an obstacle to democracy. He also criticized Articles 7A and 7B of the Constitution, saying they were designed to entrench authoritarian rule permanently.

"The High Court's decision has now been upheld. The caretaker government system will return, and the next election will be conducted under such an arrangement," he said.

However, Asaduzzaman noted that consultations would determine whether the election would be held under a "caretaker government" or an "interim government," with opinions from all sections of society taken into consideration.

He said the government would move forward with constitutional reforms based on the proposed "July Charter," adding that a parliamentary committee would be formed to oversee the implementation process through broad political consensus.

According to the minister, the court's ruling contains directives on 54 issues, all of which will be addressed through constitutional amendments in line with the July Charter.

He also said the judgment fulfilled public expectations on at least four major issues and assured that the government would implement the verdict in accordance with both the Supreme Court's ruling and public aspirations.

The law minister further announced that the National Human Rights Commission Bill would be placed before Parliament during its next session.

The Appellate Division, headed by the Chief Justice and comprising a four-member bench, delivered the ruling on Thursday, dismissing appeals challenging the High Court judgment. Lawyers involved in the case said the decision effectively restores both the caretaker government system and the constitutional provision for holding referendums.

The legal challenge stemmed from a High Court verdict delivered on December 17 last year, which declared unconstitutional several provisions of the 15th Amendment, including the abolition of the caretaker government system, while reinstating the constitutional provision for referendums. The High Court, however, did not invalidate the amendment in its entirety.

Subsequently, leave to appeal was granted by the Appellate Division on November 13, 2025. A further appeal seeking to annul the entire 15th Amendment was filed on November 3 on behalf of Sujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar by Advocate Dr. Sharif Bhuiyan.

With Thursday's judgment, the Supreme Court has affirmed the High Court's position, paving the way for the constitutional restoration of the caretaker government system ahead of the next general election.