Constitution of Bangladesh (1972)

The founding charter of independence, nationalism socialism secularity democracy, later amended around Islam.

Overview

Adopted November 4, 1972, barely a year after independence, the Bangladesh Constitution set four founding principles, nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularity. The 1975 fifth amendment ushered one party BKSAL rule later struck down by courts, and military era amendments inserted Bismillah and Islam as state religion in 1988. The 2011 fifteenth amendment restored the 1972 principles while retaining Islam as state religion, a characteristic unresolved duality. It creates a Westminster parliament with a strong prime minister. The fifteenth amendment also abolished the caretaker government system for elections, the flashpoint of subsequent political crises.