The Parliament of Bangladesh, the Jatiyo Sangsad, passed the Constitution (15th Amendment) Bill, 2011 on 30 June 2011 to amend its constitution under which the caretaker government system for holding general elections was scrapped. The bill which contained 15 proposals was passed by division vote with a majority of 291-1. However, amendments moved by ruling alliance opposing Islam as the state religion and religion-based politics were rejected. Islam has been retained as the state religion alongwith Bismillahi-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim.
The Constitutional amendments incorporate strict provisions against military takeovers. It treats military takeovers as treachery and a subversive act. Parliament has been given power to hand down maximum penalty to those usurping state power.
The caretaker system was introduced in 1996 under the 13th amendment to the constitution of Bangladesh. Since then, the general elections were overseen by non-partisan caretaker governments.
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