A writ has been lodged at the High Court, challenging the legality of the 17th amendment in constitution over the fifty women reserved seats in parliament.
The writ was lodged on Tuesday (Jan 22), by Supreme Court lawyer Dr Yunus Ali Akand.
The speaker, parliament secretary, cabinet secretary and law secretary have been made respondents to the petition.
The petition mentions the verdict of the Appellate Division which said: “There is no need for 50 reserved seats for women in Parliament since parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh is still nascent.”
It also states “Clauses 11 and 65 of constitution mentions system of election by votes and, therefore, the seventeenth amendment conflicts with clauses 7, 19, 26, 27, 28 and 31.”
The hearing may be held next Sunday by a joint bench of justices, Mainul Hossain Chowdhury and Ashraful Kamal.