BNP becomes party in 15th amendment legality challenge writ

The High Court has allowed a plea of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to become party in a writ petition challenging the legality of the 15th amendment of the constitution with a pleading to scrap it.

A High Court Division bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury granted the petition filed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on behalf of the party on Tuesday.

The High Court on August 19 issued a rule asking why the 15th amendment of the constitution would not be declared illegal. The court is scheduled to hold a hearing on the rule on Wednesday.

Five eminent citizens including Bodiul Alam Majumder, Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik -SHUJAN, filed the writ challenging the validity of the 15th amendment.

On June 30, 2011, the 15th Amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh was made during the then Awami League government.

In this amendment, the caretaker government system was abolished and the number of seats reserved for women in the National Parliament was raised from 45 to 50.