Criticism of the Constitution of Bangladesh

First page of the original Constitution of Bangladesh in Bangla

The Constitution of Bangladesh[a]—since its adoption by the 'controversial'[1][2][3] and virtually "one-party"[4] Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh in 1972—has repeatedly come under criticism for its failure to build institutionalism in governance and politics, safeguard human rights, and ensure the independence of the judiciary and the legislature from the executive.[5][6][7][8][9][10] Many denounced the Constitution for facilitating autocracy and labelled it as a "fascist constitution."[11][12][13] The Fundamental Principles of State Policy in Part II are often dismissed as empty rhetoric due to their unjusticiability,[14] while Fundamental Rights in Part III are constrained by extensive, imposable restrictions. The elevation of ideological principles above civil rights is commonly viewed as a defining trait of fascism. The Constitution’s ideological alignment with “Mujibism”—embodying nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism as its four foundational pillars[15][16]—has also led some to label it the “Mujibist Constitution.”[17]

Part IV vests executive power in the prime minister-led Cabinet; however, as it does not permit the removal of the prime minister, it results in a concentration of power in the prime minister's hands. This power is further reinforced by their dominant position within the Cabinet and control over MPs through party discipline and Article 70’s enforcement of slavish obedience to the party leader.[18] Part IV further solidifies the prime minister’s power by granting them authority over Cabinet affairs, overshadowing other ministers and centralizing executive decisions.[19]

Critics argued that the Constitution, due to poorly-defined fundamental rights, has enabled the continued enforcement of the repressive sections of British colonial laws such as the Penal Code of 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1898, and facilitated the enactment of post-independence repressive laws such as the Special Powers Act of 1974, and the Cyber Security Act of 2023.[20][21] Given the prime minister's extensive powers and citizen's limited civil rights, Badruddin Umar has famously termed the Constitution "A Constitution for Perpetual Emergency."[22][23][24][25]

Several organizations and political parties, including the Rastro Sangskar Andolon and the Gonoparishad Andolon,[b] have long campaigned to convene a constituent assembly for the reform or drafting of a new constitution.[26][27]

After the mass uprising in 2024, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee put forward a five-point demand, including the abolishment of the 1972 Constitution.[28] The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, has already established a Constitutional Reform Commission in 2024 with the aim of reforming or drafting a new inclusive, democratic constitution through an elected constituent assembly.[29][30][31][32][33]


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  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :02 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Article 70: Contradiction with the spirit of the constitution". Dhaka Tribune. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  6. ^ Khan, Salimullah (2024-10-14). Talk Show Front Line | ফ্রন্টলাইন | Matiur Rahman Chowdhury | Salimullah Khan | Nurul Kabir. Retrieved 2024-10-23 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Sabbir Ahmed (January 2010). "Article 70 of the Constitution of Bangladesh: Implications for the Process of Democratisation" (PDF). BLISS Journal. 31 (1): 1–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-03.
  8. ^ "Protesters demand removal of President, ban on Chhatra League". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved Oct 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "Constitution needs rewriting to bar autocracy". The Daily Star. 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  10. ^ "Bangladesh's constitution fails to address intersectional discrimination against disabled women – The Leaflet". theleaflet.in. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  11. ^ "Interview: Situation In Bangladesh Challenging, But Happy That A Fascist Rule Has Ended, Cultural Icon Farhad Mazhar To ETV Bharat". ETV Bharat News. 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  12. ^ "আ.লীগের নেতৃত্বে সাংবিধানিক ফ্যাসিবাদী শাসন চলছে" [A constitutional fascist rule is ongoing under the leadership of the Awami League]. Samakal (in Bengali). Jan 31, 2022. Archived from the original on October 24, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  13. ^ "Role of students, masses in state reconstruction". New Age. Retrieved Oct 26, 2024.
  14. ^ Khan, Salimullah (2024-10-14). Talk Show Front Line | ফ্রন্টলাইন | Matiur Rahman Chowdhury | Salimullah Khan | Nurul Kabir. Retrieved 2024-10-23 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ Islam, Rumana (2023-08-18). "Bangabandhu and our four Founding Principles". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on Oct 24, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  16. ^ "The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh". Laws of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved Oct 24, 2024.
  17. ^ Gupta, Somashis (2024-10-23). "Dhaka Witness Yet Anothe Protest". East India Story. Archived from the original on Oct 28, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  18. ^ Haque, Amdadul. "Powers of the Prime Minister in Bangladesh: A Critical Study" (PDF). Social Change. ISSN 1997-938X. Archived from the original (PDF) on Jun 17, 2024.
  19. ^ RAHAMAN MM. Parliament and Good Governance: A Bangladeshi Perspective. Japanese Journal of Political Science. 2008;9(1):39-62. doi:10.1017/S1468109907002812
  20. ^ Bhuiyan, Azhar Uddin (2023). "Restrictions on the Constitutional Fundamental Rights in Bangladesh: Wednesbury Unreasonableness and Proportionality". In Islam, M Rafiqul; Haque, Muhammad Ekramul (eds.). The Constitutional Law of Bangladesh: Progression and Transformation at its 50th Anniversary. Singapore: Springer. pp. 197–212. ISBN 978-981-99-2578-0.
  21. ^ Khair, Sumaiya (2023). "Constitutionalisation of Good Governance and Human Rights: Where Does Bangladesh Stand at Fifty Years?". In Islam; Haque, Muhammad Ekramul (eds.). The Constitutional Law of Bangladesh: Progression and Transformation at its 50th Anniversary. Singapore: Springer. pp. 148–149. ISBN 978-981-99-2578-0.
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ "'গণপরিষদ আন্দোলন' নামে এলো নতুন দল". Jugantor (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  27. ^ "সংকট উত্তরণে সংবিধান সংস্কার প্রয়োজন : গণপরিষদ আন্দোলন". কালবেলা (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  28. ^ "Scrap '72 constitution, ban Chhatra League". The Daily Star. 2024-10-23. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  29. ^ "Prominent Scholar Ali Riaz Appointed Head of Bangladesh Constitutional Reform Commission | Law-Order". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  30. ^ "Constituent assembly to be convened for charter reform: Nahid". Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
  31. ^ "Transitional admin in Bangladesh forms 'reform' bodies with no polls in sight". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  32. ^ "Ali Riaz to lead commission on constitutional reforms". The Daily Star. 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  33. ^ "Ali Riaz, not Shahdeen Malik, to lead reform commission on Constitution". The Business Standard. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-24.