Bangladesh’s top legal official has proposed removing the words “secularism” and “socialism” from the constitution, as well as introducing the death penalty for regime change through non-constitutional means.
In his statement in the High Court during the hearing of a writ petition filed by a group of citizens, Attorney General Mohammad Aszaman on Wednesday sought the removal of “secularism” and “socialism” as two of the four principles of the Constitution. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the undisputed leader of Bangladesh, but the Awami League politicized him in the interest of the party, he said, referring to the founding leader of Bangladesh, popularly known as Bangabandhu.
The writ petition challenged the validity of the 15th amendment to the Constitution made by the Awami League regime of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2011, while a two-judge bench of the high court had issued a ruling requiring the interim government to explain its stand. Was asked to tell. Case.
Speaking to reporters at his office, the Attorney General clarified the government’s stand on the writ petition, saying, “Overall, we do not want the (HC) rule to be struck down.”
Several people, mostly lawyers, emerged as intervenors in the writ petition, with some supporting the petition and some opposing it.
The 15th Amendment was passed in Parliament with an overwhelming majority for the Awami League, restoring, inserting and eliminating several provisions in the Constitution.
The amendments included the restoration of secularism as a state principle, abolishing the caretaker government system to monitor elections, assuming state power through extra-constitutional means, and naming Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation.
In his final arguments, Asaduzzaman told the court that the interim government wanted to declare the 15th Amendment to the Constitution largely unconstitutional, while retaining only select provisions.
They specifically demanded the restoration of the caretaker government system and a provision for referendum in the constitution.
The Awami League regime was overthrown on 5 August due to a large-scale rebellion arising from the quota reform campaign by the anti-discrimination student movement. Three days later, Nobel laureate Muhammad assumed office as chief advisor to the interim government.
The Attorney General criticized Article 7A, inserted under the 15th Amendment, which criminalizes any attempt to abrogate, suspend or pervert the Constitution by force or unconstitutional means, calling such acts treason, punishable by death. Is punishable with punishment.
They argued that the ban limits democratic change and ignores the recent mass uprising that ousted the Awami League government and demanded the restoration of a caretaker government system.
“(The provisions of the 15th Amendment) betray the sacrifices of martyrs like Abu Saeed and Mugdho,” Asaduzzaman said, referring to two students who were shot dead during the July-August mass protests.
Asaduzzaman was appointed as Attorney General a few days after the removal of the previous regime and the resignation of his predecessor.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
