The Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted the petition challenging the High Court verdict that struck down several provisions of the much-debated 15th amendment to the constitution, including the abolition of the caretaker government system.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir filed an appeal in the Appellate Division earlier on the day, seeking the complete annulment of the amendment, particularly the clauses removing the caretaker government mechanism.

A bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, accepted the petition. Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal represented Fakhrul, noting that the court has yet to set a hearing date.

Earlier, on 3 November, Dr Sharif Bhuiyan had filed a similar appeal on behalf of Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of the citizens’ platform SHUJON.

The legal battle traces back to 17 December last year, when the High Court declared certain sections of the 15th amendment unconstitutional, including those abolishing the caretaker government system, while restoring the constitutional provision for a referendum.

The court specifically invalidated Sections 20 and 21 of the amendment, stating they undermined the Constitution’s democratic foundation.

It left other provisions, such as the recognition of the Father of the Nation and the declaration of 26 March, intact, emphasising that Parliament could retain them in accordance with public sentiment.