What do you know about Constitution of Bangladesh?

Constitution is the basic governing document of a state. The rule by which the state is governed
is called the constitution. How the government of a country will be formed, how the law,
governance and judiciary will be managed, what will be their powers, what will be the
relationship between the people and the government are mentioned in the constitution.
The constitution is called the driving force of the state. Aristotle, the father of political science,
on the constitution said that,

“The constitution is a way of life which the state is chosen for itself”

According to Lord Bryce,

"Constitution is the body of rules and regulations which govern the life of the State."

Constitution making process

 By Sanction
 Through Discussion
 By Revolution
Constitution of Bangladesh

After the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan, a 34-member Constitution Drafting

Committee was formed in 1972 to draft a constitution. The committee was chaired by Dr.
Kamal Hossain. Later on, April 17, 1972, the Drafting Committee held its first session. The
draft constitution was read in the Constituent Assembly from October 19 to November 4. After
various members of the Constituent Assembly voted for and against, this constitution was
finally revised and adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1972 and came into
effect on 16 December 1972. After Independence Bangladesh formulated a model constitution
as soon as possible.

 There are 7 schedules in the constitution of Bangladesh.

 The Constitution of Bangladesh has 2 Language and 4 Principles.
 The original handwritten constitution was signed by 309 people and it’s decorated by
artist Zainul Abedin.
 The Constitution of Bangladesh has a total of 153 Articles in 11 chapters.
 The constitution of Bangladesh has 1 Preamble.

Explain the present amended constitution of Bangladesh and its

Characteristics?

As of 2018 the Constitution has been amended 17 times. The procedure for amendments is
demarcated in Article 142, a bill must be presented in the Jatiya Sansad with the two-thirds
majority of the members of national assembly (233 MPs). Amending the Constitution of
Bangladesh is the process of making changes to the nation's supreme law.

Since the constitution of Bangladesh in 1972, various ruling groups have changed or amended
the constitution sometimes to serve their own interest or sometimes to meet the needs of the
people.

Amendment Passed On Main content for Amendment

First 15 July 1973 The first amendment was made to the Article 47 of the
Amendment constitution. To provide for the trial of war criminals and
other criminals against humanity committed during the
Liberation War of 1971
Amendment Passed On Main content for Amendment
Second 22 September To provide for the declaration of emergency and the power
Amendment 1973 of detention without trial
Third 28 November To validate the Bangladesh-India Border Agreement signed
Amendment 1974 by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indian
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
Fourth 25 January To abolish the parliamentary system of government and
Amendment 1975 establish a presidential system of government
Fifth 6 April 1979 To legalize all military actions taken after 15 August 1975
Amendment and to amend the principles of the Jatiya Sangsad (National
Parliament)
Sixth 10 July 1981 To declare the office of Vice President to be a non-
Amendment profitable one in order to ensure the fairness of elections
Seventh 11 November, To legalize the activities of the military ruler HM Ershad
Amendment 1986 from March 24, 1982 to November 1986
Eighth To declare Islam as the state religion of Bangladesh and to
9 June 1988
Amendment establish six benches of the High Court outside Dhaka
 To provide for the direct election of the Vice
Ninth
11 July 1989 President
Amendment
 To limit the term of the President to two terms
Tenth To extend the term of the 30 reserved seats for women in
12 June 1990
Amendment the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) by 10 years
Eleventh To validate the continuation of Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed
6 August 1991
Amendment as Chief Justice despite having served as acting President
Twelfth To abolish the post of Vice President and restore the
6 August 1991
Amendment parliamentary system of government
Thirteenth To introduce the caretaker government system to ensure
27 March 1996
Amendment free and fair elections
To increase the number of reserved seats for women in
Fourteenth 16 May 2004
Amendment Parliament from 30 to 45.
Fifteenth 30 June 2011  Abolishing the caretaker government system, which
was introduced in 1991 to ensure free and fair
 elections.
 Increasing the number of reserved seats for women
in Parliament from 45 to 50.
Amendment
 Acknowledging Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the
Father of the Nation.

Sixteenth 22 September Delagating the power of impeachment to judges in

Amendment the hands of parliament
2014
Seventeenth 8 July 2018 Extended the tenure of the 50 reserved seats for
Amendment women for another 25 years

Characteristics

 The constitution is a written document.

 "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" is written in its preamble.
 Some fundamental principles have been included for conducting the state.
 There is a long list of Fundamental Rights in the constitution. These rights are
indispensable for the development of personality and personal freedom. For the
protection of these rights there is also guarantee in the constitution.
 Universal Adult Franchise has been introduced.
 Bangladesh has been declared a Republic.
 Parliamentary democratic system has been introduced.
 There will be Unitary Form of Government in the state.
 The legislature will be unicameral. The name of the legislature is National Assembly.
 The constitution is rigid (which cannot be changed easily)
 The constitution is the Supreme Law of the country