Constitutional Changes in Bangladesh: Process of Political Development

Abstract

The Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh initially adopted a constitution in 1972 that sought to direct the state power to develop ways and means for the society's transition to a socialistic economic order through a secular parliamentary democracy.1 Today, through constitutional changes, Bangladesh is neither a parliamentary democracy, nor does it follow a path to a socialistic economy. Secularism also is no longer a constitutional dictum.2 These clearly indicate changes in the fundamentals of the Constitution (1972), and such changes, wheneuer they occur, require probing in terms of the basis, the process and method of constitution making, constitution-amending and the legitimacy of these processes. The following analysis attempts to explore the Bangladesh case.3