Staff Correspondent

The Electoral Reform Commission chief Badiul Alam Majumdar has hinted at reviving the caretaker government system, which was abolished a decade ago.

After a meeting with representatives from civil society on Sunday, he said: "What is clear from this discussion is that everyone has agreed on the caretaker government system. The Election Commission must be made independent, strengthened, and particularly given financial autonomy."

Badiul added, “The Election Commission must become another government under the government – in this way, they will become stronger.”

In 1996, the BNP government, under pressure from opposition movements led by the Awami League, passed the 13th constitutional amendment in parliament, establishing the caretaker government system.

Later, when the Awami League returned to power, the hearing of the 13th Amendment case began in the Appellate Division on Mar 1, 2010. In the hearing, the top eight lawyers also presented arguments as amici curiae, in addition to the appellant and the state party.

They expressed support for maintaining the caretaker government system. Even the then attorney general Mahbubey Alam voiced his support for it.

On May 10, 2011, a full bench of seven judges in the Appellate Division, based on a majority opinion, annulled the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. At the time, the chief justice was ABM Khairul Haque.

Before the full verdict was published, the 15th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in the parliament on Jun 30, 2011, and the president approved it on Jul 3.

This amendment abolished the caretaker government system and granted constitutional recognition to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation.

After the fall of the Awami League government, Badiul, along with four others, filed a writ petition in August seeking the repeal of the 15th Amendment.

In the same month, Badiul and the other petitioners also filed a review petition with the Appellate Division, seeking a reconsideration of the verdict that had annulled the 13th Amendment. Later, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also submitted a similar petition.

On Oct 3, the interim government formed an eight-strong reform commission, headed by Badiul, the general secretary of Shushasoner Jonno Nagorik, or SHUJAN, with the aim of reforming the existing electoral system. The commission is expected to submit its recommendations within 90 days.

"The past election commissions, which conducted disgraceful or rigged elections, broke their oath and violated the Constitution. Everyone has called for holding them accountable," Badiul said at the Election Commission building on Sunday.

He added, "The people who attended [on Sunday] are highly experienced researchers. We had an open discussion with them."

Badiul said, “All those who came from civil society have advocated for the reintroduction of the ‘no’ vote provision. They have called for the establishment of democracy within political parties. Without democracy within political parties, democracy cannot be achieved in the country.”

“There was also a discussion on the presidential election. The idea of strengthening the position of the president was also raised,” he concluded.