A writ petition was lodged yesterday seeking the High Court’s directive on holding the next two national elections under the caretaker government in line with the observation made by the Appellate Division. The petition urged the court to issue a rule asking “why failure to take initiatives to conduct the 10th and 11th general polls under a caretaker regime should not be held illegal and why those responsible should not be ordered to take necessary measures in this regard.” Eunus Ali Akond, a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the plea. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia, the Speaker, secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, law secretary, cabinet secretary, and the Chief Election Commissioner, have all been made defendants in the plea. The top court on May 10, 2011 annulled the caretaker government with observations that the next two parliamentary elections be held under the caretaker administration as well, said Eunus. The Awami League-led government scrapped the provisions for caretaker government system from the constitution by enacting the 15th amendment. The BNP led 18-Party alliance has repeatedly demanded the reinstatement of the caretaker system while the ruling party stressed that the incumbent government will remain in administration for the next parliamentary polls. Advocate Eunus Ali Akond has a history of frequently filing petitions with the HC on different issues. Among them, he has sought the HC’s directives for a dialogue between the chiefs of the two major political parties – Awami League and BNP - and challenged the president’s oath-taking law.
Saturday, March 22, 2025
