Bangladesh court rules 1975 military takeover illegal News
Bangladesh court rules 1975 military takeover illegal

[JURIST] The Bangladesh High Court [government backgrounder] ruled Monday that the country's 1975 military takeover was "illegal" and "void" and that a martial regulation incorporated into the fifth Amendment to the Bangladesh Constitution [text] was invalid. In their opinion, the judges ruled that the "Taking over the powers of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh with effect from the morning of 15th August 1975 by Khondoker Moshtaque Ahmed, the usurper, placing Bangladesh under martial law and his assumption of the office of the President of Bangladesh by Proclamation of 20-8-75 were in clear violation of the Constitution and as such illegal without lawful authority, and without jurisdiction" and that all subsequent actions of the president were "illegitimate and void." PTI has more. The Bangladesh Observer has local coverage in English.

1:40 PM ET – Responding to the ruling Tuesday, Bangladesh Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali said that the High Court is not the final authority on constitutional matters and that the government will appeal the decision. BDNews has more.