AN ASSIGNMENT

ON
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF BANGLADESH
course title: Government and sociology
course no: Soc 4153
Date of submission : 14th April 2022

Submitted To:
Afsana Polly
Assistant Professor
Sociology Discipline Submitted By:
Khulna University MD. Sayeedi Mottakin
Khulna. Student ID: 180227
Computer Science and
Engineering Discipline
Khulna University
khulna
 Government and Politics of Bangladesh

1.Constitutional framework of Bangladesh:

Bangladesh’s constitution of 1972 specifies a parliamentary form of government that

consist of a prime minister and a president elected by a national assembly. It has
already 16 amendments. In 1975 a military coup led to a regime of martial law, and
though the form of government that followed was a mixture of presidential and
parliamentary systems, power effectively remained with the army. The country
experienced by the martial law from 1975 to 1980’s, but in 1991 a parliamentary
system was restored, with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of
government. The president is the constitutional head of state and elected for 5 years
by the parliament.

2.The Parliament system of Bangladesh :

The Bangladesh parliament (Jatiyo-Sangsad) was established in 1972 following the

separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan. Bangladesh has a parliamentary democracy
system that is followed by the British parliamentary system. In this system , the all
Executive power has the prime minister who is the head of cabinet . The current
parliament of Bangladesh contains 350 seats where 50 seats reserved for women.
Elected members by the people (eligible for vote 18 years old and above) of
Bangladesh are called MP(member of parliament). The last parliament election was
held on 30 December 2018.
3.The political parties of Bangladesh :

This study provides an overview of the evolution of political parties since the birth of
Bangladesh. There are four major electoral political parties : Bangladesh Awami
League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jatiya-Party and Jamaat-e-Islami. Key
features of party practices and their impact on political development are identified.
Six indicators are used to assess the state of internal party democracy. The indicators
are leadership selection, candidate nomination, policy-setting, social diversity of
leadership, transparency and accountability of party towards election funding.
Challenges facing the parties are highlighted and actions are suggested to improve the
functioning of political parties.

There are two leading political parties one is Awami League and another one is
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) . So Bangladesh has fading a two party system
which means that there are two dominant political parties.

4.Military Government of Bangladesh :

Military rule in the sense of governing a country unconstitutionally by armed forces.

Military intervention took place in Bangladesh a number of times since 1975.The
State of Emergency was proclaimed in December 1974 and all basic rights were
suspended. The ultimate expression of the dominating attitude of the government was
found through fourth amendment of the Constitution on 25 January 1975. By this
amendment the parliamentary form of government was replaced by a single party
government system. The “BAKSAL“ system though considered to be an alternative
measure for mitigating the political crisis of the time, it is believed that the
amendment expedited the fall of the Awami League government in 1975 and initiated
the military interference in the politics of Bangladesh.
4.1 Regime of General Zia (1975-1981) : Having acquired state power General Zia
succeeded in consolidating his position. Like other military rulers, he also placed his
personal rule in the focal point of administrative system by democratizing the
administration. On 15 November 1975 , Ziaur Rahman promulgated some military
rules and regulations which included the provision of death sentence for instigating
into the army the spirit of rebellion. During Zia's rule, the military and civil
bureaucracy was again came to the focal point of decision making.

4.2 Regime of Genera Mohammad Ershad (1982-1990) : The armed forces of the
country led by its Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Huseyn Mohammad Ershad
removed the elected President abdus sattar from power by a coup defect on 24 March
1982. General Ershad had notable venture for militarisation of the administrative
machinary. He took strong stand for incorporating in the Constitution the role of the
army in codifying the principle of the state and of administration.

5. Caretaker Government of Bangladesh :

Caretaker Government in the parlance of institutional government, a caretaker

government is one which normally takes care of state administration for an interim
period until the regular new government is formed.
5.1 Caretaker Government of 1990 :

Restoration of democracy through fair polls was ultimately transformed into a united
anti-Ershad movement by the combined opposition parties with a forceful demand for
a neutral caretaker government. Opposition formula for the formation of neutral
caretaker government was categorically mentioned in the 1990 Joint Declaration of
the Three (political) Party Alliances. The Declaration specified inter alia that the
political alliances would participate in the elections only when conducted by a neutral
non-partisan caretaker government; but before that Ershad government would have to
be forced to resign and an interim caretaker government would be formed; thereafter,
Election Commission would be reconstituted by the caretaker government to hold
free and fair election.

5.2 Caretaker Government of 1996 :

In the face of continuous agitation of the combined opposition, the Fifth Sangsad was
dissolved and preparations were underway for forming the Sixth Sangsad to enact
constitutional amendment for caretaker government. Having failed to convince the
mainstream opposition, the ruling BNP moved unilaterally to legalise the caretaker
government after the Sixth Jatiya-Sangsad was constituted on 19 March 1996.

5.3 Caretaker Government of 2001 :

Following the provision for caretaker government through thirteen amendment of the
Constitution, the third caretaker government was formed on 15 July 2001 and the
former Chief Justice, Justice Latifur Rahman took over charge as the Chief Adviser.
5.3 Caretaker Government of 2006-2007 :

After the completion of the tenure of the BNP government in October 2006 there was
a great disagreement over the formation of caretaker government, and violence
engulfed the country including the capital city, Dhaka. In such volatile situation the
last retired chief justice declared his unwillingness to become the chief adviser of the
next caretaker government.

6.Elections of Bangladesh :

1991:

In 1991, the first free and fair election was held in Bangladesh. Begum Khaleda Zia
and her party won the election. It played a major role in solidifying Bangladeshi
democracy in aftermath of the anti-government protests in late 1980’s.

1996:

In 1996 parliamentary election, BNP won the election. But irregularities are found
and For that this election was boycotted by Awami League .After that for giving fair
election, Caretaker Government comes to take charge and fresh election was held in
June. Awami League won the election.

2001:

General elections were held in Bangladesh on 1 October 2001. The elections were the
second to be held under the caretaker Government concept ,introduced in 1996.The
result was a win for the four party alliance and BNP leader Begum Khaleda Zia
became prime minister. Government introduces law making acid attacks punishable
by death amid public anger over escalating violence against women.

2008:

General elections were held on 29 December 2008 . The Bangladesh Awami League
formed fourteen-party grand alliance besides BNP formed four party alliance and the
election resulted in a landside victory for the Awami League-led grand alliance.

2014:

General elections were held on 5 January 2014.The elections were controversial with
almost all major parties boycotting the election. The elections were not free and fare
and it was preceded by government crackdown on the opposition and BNP and
opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia was put under house arrest. The elections
were criticized by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and the
United Nations.

2018:

General elections were held on 30 December 2018. The result was a landside victory
for Awami League . According to the political scientist this election was not free and
fare. This election was boycotted by the opposition leader Dr. Kamal Hossain and
demanding a fresh election under Caretaker Government.
7.Some key chronology events after independence of Bangladesh:

1972 : League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman becomes the prime minister and
begins a program of nationalising key industries.

1975 : Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is assassinated in a military coup in August. Martial

law is imposed.

1977 : General Ziaur Rahman becomes president.

1981 : President Ziaur Rahman is assassinated in abortive coup.

1982 : General Hussain Muhammad Ershad seizes power.

1990 : President Ershad steps down following mass protests.

1991 : Begum Khaleda Zia, widow of President Ziaur Rahman, becomes prime
minister, shifts power away from presidency.

1996 : Awami League returns to power under with Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the
daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

2001 October : Khaleda Zia's Nationalist Party takes power in coalition

government.

2007 April : Sheikh Hasina is charged with murder and Begum Khaleda Zia is
placed under virtual house arrest in clampdown by caretaker government after a year
of violent political unrest.

2008 December : General elections: Awami League captures more than 250 of 300
seats in parliament. Sheikh Hasina is sworn in as prime minister in January.

2013 July : Ghulam Azam, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, is convicted of war
crimes committed during the 1971 war of independence. Several other Jamaat leaders
are convicted in the following years.
2018 December : Governing Awami League wins landslide victory in
parliamentary election, but the campaign was marred by reports of violence,
intimidation, and vote-rigging. At least 17 people died in clashes between Awami
League and opposition supporters.

8.Source of revenue of Government :

The main sources of government revenues are taxes (on income or wealth, for
example) and social contributions made directly by or on behalf of employees. A
lower share of revenues comes from sales by the general government (e.g. user fees
for the provision of services), grants, and other sources (e.g. property income).

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