Back To The Right Path

The following fundamental principles of Bangladesh constitution of 1972 evolved through experiences of the liberation struggle of Bangladesh.

- Democracy
- Nationalism
- Secularism and
- Socialism (meaning economic and social justice for all)

Here you can read the original constitution hand written in Bangla: (courtesy Arup Kamal)

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

The later amendments replaced Secularity with "Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah shall be the basis of all actions". Here is a list of the amendments made (In Bangla, In English).

However, the government has decided to pull back Bangladesh in the path of its original constitution by annulling the fifth amendment. A day after the Supreme Court vacated an earlier stay on the High Court verdict that declared illegal the fifth amendment of the constitution, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said that:

Religion-based political parties of the country will be banned.

This is possible after the reinstatement of a para in the section 38 which says:

"কোনো সাম্প্রদায়িক রাজনৈতিক সংগঠন, ধর্মীয় নামযুক্ত বা ধর্মভিত্তিক কোনো সংগঠন করা যাবে না।"
"No religious political organization, organization with religious names or based on religion are allowed."

However, the prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said:

The words “Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim” in the preamble to the constitution and declaration of Islam as state religion will remain as they are, since they reflect the beliefs of the people.

This certainly will diffuse the religious parties who are trying to establish political Islam and shariah in Bangladesh.