Constitution of Bangladesh

We, the people of Bangladesh, having proclaimed our Independence on the 26th day of March, 1971 and through 2[a historic war for national independence], established the independent, sovereign People's Republic of Bangladesh;

Pledging that the high ideals of absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah, nationalism, democracy and socialism meaning economic and social justice, which inspired our heroic people to dedicate themselves to, and our brave martyrs to sacrifice their lives in the war for national independence, shall be fundamental principles of the Constitution;

Further pledging that it shall be a fundamental aim of the State to realise through the democratic process to socialist society, free from exploitation-a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizens;

Affirming that it is our sacred duty to safeguard, protect and defend this Constitution and to maintain its supremacy as the embodiment of the will of the people of Bangladesh so that we may prosper in freedom and may make our full contribution towards international peace and co-operation in keeping with the progressive aspirations of mankind;

In our Constituent Assembly, this eighteenth day of Kartick, 1379 B.S corresponding to the fourth day of November, 1972 A.D., do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution.

1. The Republic. Bangladesh is a unitary, independent, sovereign Republic to be known as the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

2. The territory of the Republic. The territory of the Republic shall comprise-

1.    The territories which immediately before the proclamation of independence on the 26th day of March, 1971 constituted East Pakistan 4[and the territories referred to as included territories in the Constitution (Third Amendment) Act, 1974, but excluding the territories referred to as excluded territories in that Act; and]

2.    such other territories as may become included in Bangladesh.

2A. The state religion. The state religion of the Republic is Islam, but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in the Republic.

3. The state language. The state language of the Republic is 6[Bangla

4. National anthem, flag and emblem.

4A. Portrait.

5. The capital.

(1) The capital of the Republic is Dhaka.

(2.) The boundaries of the capital shall be determined by law.

6. Citizenship.


7. Supremacy of the Constitution.

(1) All powers in the Republic belong to the people, and their exercise on behalf of the people shall be effected only under, and by the authority of, this Constitution.

(2) This Constitution is, as the solemn expression of the will of the people, the supreme law of the Republic, and if any other law is inconsistent with this Constitution and other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.

8.    Fundamental principles.   


9. Promotion of local Government institutions.

The State shall encourage local Government institutions composed of representatives of the areas concerned and in such institutions special representation shall be given, as far as possible, to peasants, workers and women.   

10.     Participation of women in national life.   

Steps shall be taken to ensure participation of women in all spheres of national life.] Participation of women in national life.

11.     Democracy and human rights.   

The Republic shall be a democracy in which fundamental human rights and freedoms and respect for the dignity and worth of the human person shall be guaranteed, and in which effective participation by the people through their elected representatives in administration at all levels shall be ensured.   

12.    (Omitted)

13.     Principles of ownership.   

The people shall own or control the instruments and means of production and distribution, and with this end in view ownership shall assume the following forms-

1. state ownership, that is ownership by the State on behalf of the people through the creation of an efficient and dynamic nationalised public sector embracing the key sectors of the economy;

2. co-operative ownership, that is ownership by co-operatives on behalf of their members within such limits as may be prescribed by law; and

3. private ownership, that is ownership by individuals within such limits as may be prescribed by law.    

14. Emancipation of peasants and workers.   

    It shall be a fundamental responsibility of the State to emancipate the toiling masses the peasants and workers and backward sections of the people from all forms and exploitation.   

15.     Provision of basic necessities.   

    It shall be a fundamental responsibility of the State to attain, through planned economic growth, a constant increase of productive forces and a steady improvement in the material and cultural standard of living of the people, with a view to securing to its citizens-


16.     Rural development and agricultural revolution.   

    The State shall adopt effective measures to bring about a radical transformation in the rural areas through the promotion of a agricultural revolution, the provision of rural electrification, the development of cottage and other industries, and the improvement of education, communications and public health, in those areas, so as progressively to remove the disparity in the standards of living between the urban and the rules areas.   

17.     Free and compulsory education.   

    The State shall adopt effective measures for the purpose of -


18.     Public health and morality.   

    (1) The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the improvement of public health as moving its primary duties, and in particular shall adopt effective measures to prevent the consumption, except for medical purposes or for such other purposes as may be prescribed by law, of alcoholic and other intoxicating drinks and drugs which are injurious to health.

      (2) The State shall adopt effective measures to prevent prostitution and gambling.   

19.     Equality of opportunity.   

    (1) The State shall endeavour to ensure equality of opportunity to all citizens.

  (2) The State shall adopt effective measures to remove social and economic inequality between man and man and to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth among citizens, and of opportunities in order to attain a uniform level of economic development throughout the Republic.   

20.     Work as a right and duty.   

    (1) Work is a right, a duty and a matter of honour for every citizen who is capable of working, and everyone shall be paid for his work on the basis of the principle "from each according to his abilities to each according to his work".

      (2) The State shall endeavour to create conditions in which, as a general principle, persons shall not be able to enjoy unearned incomes, and in which human labour in every form, intellectual and physical, shall become a fuller expression of creative endeavour and of the human personality.   

21.     Duties of citizens and of public servants.   

    (1) It is the duty of every citizen to observe the Constitution and the laws, to maintain discipline, to perform public duties and to protect public property.

     (2) Every person in the service of the Republic has a duty to strive at all times to serve the people.   

22.     Separation of Judiciary from the executive.   

    The State shall ensure the separation of the judiciary from the executive organs of the State. Separation of Judiciary from the executive.   

23.     National Culture.   

    The State shall adopt measures to conserve the cultural traditions and heritage of the people, and so to foster and improve the national language, literature and the arts that all sections of the people are afforded the opportunity to contribute towards and to participate in the enrichment of the national culture.   

24.     National monuments, etc.   

    The State shall adopt measures for the protection against disfigurement, damage or removal of all monuments, objects or places of special artistic or historic importance or interest.   

25.     Promotion of international peace, security and solidarity.   

(1)] The State shall base its international relations on the principles of respect for national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and respect for international law and the principles enunciated in the United Nations Charter, and on the basis of those principle shall-


(2) The State shall endeavour to consolidate, preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic solidarity.

26.     Laws inconsistent with fundamental rights to be void.

    (1) All existing law inconsistent with the provisions of this Part shall, to the extent of such inconsistency, become void on the commencement of this Constitution.

    (2) The State shall not make any law inconsistent with any provisions of this Part, and any law so made shall, to the extent of such inconsistency, be void.

    (3) Nothing in this article shall apply to any amendment of this Constitution made under article 142.
   
27.     Equality before law.   

    All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.   

28.     Discrimination on grounds of religion, etc.   

    (1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race caste, sex or place of birth.

      (2) Women shall have equal rights with men in all spheres of the State and of public life.

   (3) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth be subjected to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to access to any place of public entertainment or resort, or admission to any educational institution.

      (4) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making special provision in favour of women or children or for the advancement of any backward section of citizens.   

29.     Equality of opportunity in public employment.   

     (1) There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in respect of employment or office in the service of the Republic.

   (2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office in the service of the Republic.

      (3) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from -


30. Prohibition of foreign titles, etc.    

    No citizen shall, without the prior approval of the President, accept any title, honour, award or decoration from any foreign state.]

31.     Right to protection of law.    

    To enjoy the protection of the law, and to be treated in accordance with law, and only in accordance with law, is the inalienable right of every citizen, wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being within Bangladesh, and in particular no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with law.   

32.     Protection of right to life and personal liberty.    

    No person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty save in accordance with law.   

33. Safeguards as to arrest and detention.   

    (1) No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed, as soon as may be of the grounds for such arrest, nor shall he be denied the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice.

   (2) Every person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of twenty four hours of such arrest, excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court of the magistrate, and no such person shall be detained in custody beyond the said period without the authority of a magistrate.

     (3) Nothing in clauses (1) and (2) shall apply to any person-


     (4) No law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a period exceeding six months unless an Advisory Board consisting of three persons, of whom two shall be persons who are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as, Judges of the Supreme Court and the other shall be a person who is a senior officer in the service of the Republic, has, after affording him an opportunity of being heard in person, reported before the expiration of the said period of six months that there is, in its opinion, sufficient cause for such detention.

      (5) When any person is detained in pursuance of an order made under any law providing for preventive detention, the authority making the order shall, as soon as may be, communicate to such person the grounds on which the order has been made, and shall afford him the earliest opportunity of making a representation against the order.

      (6) Parliament may be law prescribe the procedure to be followed by an Advisory Board in an inquiry under clause (4)].   

34.     Prohibition of forced labour.   

    (1) All forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.

    (2) Nothing in this article shall apply to compulsory labour.


35.     Protection in respect of trial and punishment.    

    (1) No person shall be convicted to any offence except for violation of al law in force at the time of the commission of the act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than, or different from that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence.

    (2) No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.

   (3) Every person accused of a criminal offence shall have the right to a speedy and public trial by an independent and impartial court or tribunal established by law.

   (4) No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.

   (5) No person shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment or treatment.

   (6) Nothing in clause (3) or clause (5) shall affect the operation of any existing law which prescribes any punishment or procedure for trial.   

36.     Freedom of movement.   

    Subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the public interest, every citizen shall have the right to move freely throughout Bangladesh, to reside and settle in any place therein and to leave and re-enter Bangladesh.   

37.     Freedom of assembly.   

    Every citizen shall have the right to assemble and to participate in public meetings and processions peacefully and without arms, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of public order health.   

38.     Freedom of association.   
    Every citizen shall have the right to form associations or unions, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of morality or public order;

39.     Freedom of thought and conscience, and of speech.   

    (1) Freedom or thought and conscience is guaranteed. Freedom of thought and conscience, and of speech.

    (2) Subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence-


40.     Freedom of profession or occupation.   

    Subject to any restrictions imposed by law, every citizen possessing such qualifications, if any, as may be prescribed by law in relation to his profession, occupation, trade or business shall have the right to enter upon any lawful profession or occupation, and to conduct any lawful trade or business.   

41.     Freedom of religion.   

    (1) Subject to law, public order and morality-


(2) No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious instruction, or to take part in or to attend any religious ceremony or worship, if that instruction, ceremony or worship relates to a religion other than his own.   

42.     Rights to property.   

    (1) Subject to any restrictions imposed by law, every citizen shall have the right to acquire, hold, transfer or otherwise dispose of property, and no property shall be compulsorily acquired, nationalised or requisitioned save by authority of law.

  (2) A law made under clause (1) shall provide for the acquisition, nationalisation or requisition with compensation and shall either fix the amount of compensation or specify the principles on which, and the manner in which, the compensation is to be assessed and paid; but no such law shall be called in question in any court on the ground that any provision in respect of such compensation is not adequate.

  (3) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any law made before the commencement of the Proclamations (Amendment) Order, 1977 (Proclamations Order No. I of 1977), in so far as it relates to the acquisition, nationalisation or acquisition of any property without compensation.

43.     Protection of home and correspondence.   

    Every citizen shall have the right, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of the security of the State, public order, public morality or public health-


44. Enforcement of fundamental rights.   

        (1) The right to move the High Court Division in accordance with clause (I) of article 102 for the enforcement of the rights conferred by this Part of guaranteed.

    (2) Without prejudice to the powers of the High Court Division under article 102, Parliament may be law empower any other court, within the local limits of its jurisdiction, to exercise all or any of those powers.

45.     Modification of rights in respect of disciplinary.   

    Nothing in this Part shall apply to any provision of a disciplinary law relating to members of a disciplined force, being a provision limited to the purpose of ensuring the proper discharge of their duties or the maintenance of discipline in that force.   

46.     Power to provide indemnity.   

    Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part, Parliament may be law make provision for indemnifying any person in the service of the Republic or any other person in respect of any act done by him in connection with the national liberation struggle or the maintenance or restoration of other in any area in Bangladesh or validate any sentence passed, punishment inflicted, forfeiture ordered, or other act done in any such area.   

47.     Saving for certain laws.   

    (1) No law providing for any of the following matters shall be deemed to be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with, or takes away or abridge, any of the rights guaranteed by this Part-


if Parliament in such law (including, in the case of existing law, by amendment) expressly declares that such provision is made to give effect to any of the fundamental principles of state policy set out in Part II of this Constitution.

      (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution the laws specified in the First Schedule (including any amendment of any such law) shall continue to have full force and effect, and no provision of any such law, nor anything done or omitted to be done under the authority of such law, shall be deemed void or unlawful on the ground of inconsistency with, or repugnance to, any provision of this Constitution; 24[Provided that nothing in this article shall prevent amendment, modification or repeal of any such law.

    (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution, no law nor any provision thereof providing for detention, prosecution or punishment of any person, who is a member of any armed or defence or auxiliary forces or who is a prisoner of war, for genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes and other crimes under international law shall be deemed void or unlawful, or ever to have become void or unlawful, on the ground that such law or provision of any such law is inconsistent with, or repugnant to any of the provisions of this Constitution.

47A. In applicability of certain articles.   

    (1) The rights guaranteed under article 31. clauses (1) and (3) of article 35 and article 44 shall not apply to any person to whom a law specified in clause (3) of article 47 applies.

    (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution, no person to whom a law specified in clause (3) of article 47 applies shall have the right to move the Supreme Court for any of the remedies under this Constitution.


48.     The President.   

    (1) There shall be a President of Bangladesh who shall be elected by members of Parliament in accordance with law.

    (2) The President shall as Head of State, take precedence over all other persons in the State, and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred and imposed on him by this Constitution and by any other law.

   (3) In the exercise of all his functions, save only that of appointing the Prime Minister pursuant to clause (3) of article 56 and the Chief Justice pursuant to clause (1) of article 95, the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister;

Provided that the question whether any, and if so what, advice has been tendered by the Prime Minister to the President shall not be enquired into in any court.

    (4) A person shall not be qualified for election as President if he-


49.     Prerogative of mercy.   

    The President shall have power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority. Prerogative of mercy.   

50.     Term of office of President.   

    (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office;
Provided that notwithstanding the expiration of his term the President shall continue to hold office until his successor enters upon office.

    (2) No person shall hold office as President for more than two terms, whether or not the terms are consecutive.
 
     (3) The President may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker.

    (4) The President during his term of office shall not be qualified for election as a member of Parliament, and if a member of Parliament is elected as President he shall vacate his seat in Parliament on the day on which he enters upon his office as President.    

51.     President's immunity.   

    (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of article 52, the President shall not be answerable in any court for anything done or omitted by him in the exercise or purported exercise of the functions of this office, but this clause shall not prejudice the right of any person to take proceedings against the Government.

  (2) During his term of office no criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President in, and no process for his arrest or imprisonment shall issue from, any court.   

52.     Impeachment of the President.   

    (1) The President may be impeached on a charge of violating this Constitution or of grave misconduct, preferred by a notice of motion signed by a majority of the total number of members of the Parliament and delivered to the speaker, setting out the particulars of the charges, and the motion shall not be debated earlier than fourteen nor later than thirty days after the notice is so delivered; and the Speaker shall forthwith summon Parliament if it is not in session.

    (2) The Conduct of the President may be referred by Parliament to any court, tribunal or body appointed or designated by Parliament for the investigation of a charge under this article.

   (3) The President shall have the right to appear and to be represented during the consideration of the charge.

      (4) If after the consideration of the charge a resolution is passed by Parliament by votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of members declaring that the charge has been substantiated, the President shall vacate his office on the date on which the resolution is passed.

    (5) Where the Speaker is exercising the functions of the President under article 54 the provisions of this article shall apply subject to the modifications that the reference to the Speaker in clause (1) shall be construed as a deference to the Deputy Speaker, and that the reference in clause (4) to the vacation by the President of his office shall be construed as a reference to the vacation by the Speaker of his office as Speaker; and on the passing of a resolution such as is referred to in clause (4) the Speaker shall cease to exercise the functions of President.   

53.     Removal of President of ground of incapacity.   

    (1) The President may be removed from office on the ground of physical or mental incapacity on a motion of which notice, signed by a majority of the total number of members of Parliament, is delivered to the Speaker, setting out particulars of the alleged incapacity. Removal of President on ground of incapacity.
 
      (2) On receipt of the notice the Speaker shall forthwith summon Parliament if it is not in session and shall call for a resolution constituting a medical board (hereinafter in this article called "the Board") and upon the necessary motion being made and carried shall forthwith cause a copy of the notice to be transmitted to the President together with a request signed by the Speaker that the President submit himself within a period of ten days from the date of the request to an examination by the Board.

       (3) The motion for removal shall not be put to the vote earlier than fourteen nor later than thirty days after notice of the motion is delivered to the Speaker, and if it is again necessary to summon Parliament in order to enable the motion to be made within that period, the Speaker shall summon Parliament.

    (4) The President shall have the right to appear and to be represented during the consideration of the motion.

       (5) If the President has not submitted himself to an examination by the Board before the motion is made in Parliament, the motion may be put to the vote, and if it is passed by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of members of Parliament, the President shall vacate his office on the date on which the motion is passed.

      (6) If before the motion for removal is made is Parliament, the President has submitted himself to an examination by the Board, the motion shall not be put to the vote until the Board has been given an opportunity of reporting its opinion to Parliament.

      (7) If after consideration by Parliament of the motion and of the report of the Board (which shall be submitted within seven days of the examination held pursuant to clause (2) and if not so submitted shall be dispensed with) the motion is passed by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of members of Parliament, the President shall vacate his office on the date on which the resolution is passed.   

54.     Speaker to act as President during absence, etc.    

    If a vacancy occurs in the office of President or if the President is unable to discharge the functions of his office on account of absence, illness or any other cause of Speaker shall discharge those functions until a President is elected or until the President resumes the functions of his office, as the case may be.   


55.     The Cabinet.   

    (1) There shall be a Cabinet for Bangladesh having the Prime Minister at its head and comprising also such other Minister as the Prime Minister may from time to time designate.

    (2) The executive power of the Republic shall, in accordance with this Constitution, be exercised by or on the authority of the Prime Minister.

      (3) The Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to Parliament.

     (4) All executive actions of the Government shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President.

     (5) The President shall by rules specify the manner in which orders and other instruments made in his name shall be attested of authenticated, and the validity or any order of instrument so attested or authenticated shall not be questioned in any court on the ground that it was not duly made or executed.

     (6) The President shall make rules for the allocation and transaction of the business of the Government.   

56.     Minister.   

    (1) There shall be Prime Minister, and such other Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers as may be determined by the Prime Minister.

   (2) The appointments of the Prime Minister and other Ministers and of the Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers, shall be made by the President: Provided that not less than nine-tenths of their number shall be appointed from among members of Parliament and not more than one-tenth of their number may be chosen from among persons qualified for election as members of Parliament.

    (3) The President shall appoint as Prime Minister the member of Parliament who appears to him to command the support of the majority of the members of Parliament.

    (4) If occasion arises for making any appointment under clause (2) of clause (3) between a dissolution of Parliament and the next following general election of members of Parliament, the persons who were such members immediately before the dissolution shall be regarded for the purpose of this clause as counting to be such members.   

57.     Tenure of office of Prime Minister.   

    (1) The office of the Prime Minister shall be vacant -


    (2) If the Prime Minister ceases to retain the support of a majority of the members of Parliament, he shall either resign his office or advise the President shall, if he is satisfied that no other member of Parliament commands the support of the majority of the members of Parliament, dissolve Parliament accordingly.

    (3) Nothing in this article shall disqualify the Prime Minister for holding office until his successor has entered upon office.   

58.     Tenure of office of other Ministers.   

    (1) The office of a Minister other than the Prime Minister shall become vacant-


     (2) The Prime Minister may at any time request a Minister to resign, and if such Minister fails to comply with the request, may advise the President to terminate the appointment of such Minister.

    (3) Nothing in sub-clauses (a), (b), and (d) of clause (1) shall disqualify a Minister for holding office during any period in which Parliament stands dissolved.

     (4) If the Prime Minister resigns from or ceases to hold office each of the other Ministers shall be deemed also to have resigned from office but shall, subject to the provisions of the Chapter, continue to hold office until his successor has entered upon office.

     (5) In this article "Minister" includes Minister of State and Deputy Minister.   

58A.  Application of Chapter.   

    Application of Chapter.- Nothing in this Chapter, except the provision of article 55(4), (5) and (6), shall apply during the period in which Parliament is dissolved or stands dissolved: Provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in Chapter IIA, where the President summons Parliament that has been dissolved to meet under article 72(4), this Chapter shall apply."


58B.     Non-Party Care-taker Government   

    (1) There shall be a Non-Party Care-taker Government during the period from the date on which the Chief Adviser of such government enters upon office after Parliament is dissolved or stands dissolved by reason of expiration of its term till the date on which a new Prime Minister enters upon his office after the constitution of Parliament.

   (2) The Non-Party Care-taker Government shall be collectively responsible to the President.

   (3) The executive power of the Republic shall, during the period mentioned in clause (1), be exercised, subject to the provisions of article 58D(1), in accordance with this Constitution, by or on the authority of the Chief Adviser and shall be exercised by him in accordance with the advice of the Non-Party Care-taker Government.

   (4) The provisions of article 55(4), (5) and (6) shall (with the necessary adaptations) apply to similar matters during the period mentioned in clause (1).   

58C. Composition of the Non-Party Care-taker Government, appointment of Advisers, etc.   

    (1) Non-Party Care-taker Government shall consist of the Chief Adviser at its head and not more than ten other Advisors, all of whom shall be appointed by the President.

  (2) The Chief Adviser and other Advisers shall be appointed within fifteen days after Parliament is dissolved or stands dissolved, and during the period between the date on which Parliament is dissolved or stands dissolved and the date on which the Chief Adviser is appointed, the Prime Minister and his cabinet who were in office immediately before Parliament was dissolved or stood dissolved shall continue to hold office as such.

   (3) The President shall appoint as Chief Adviser the person who among the retired Chief Justices of Bangladesh retired last and who is qualified to be appointed as an Adviser under this article:

Provided, that if such retired Chief Justice is not available or is not willing to hold the office of Chief Adviser, the President shall appoint as Chief Adviser the person who among the retired Chief Justices of Bangladesh retired next before the last retired Chief Justice.

   (4) If no retired Chief Justice is available or willing to hold the office of Chief Advise, the President shall appoint as Chief Adviser the person who among the retired Judges of the Appellate Division retired last and who is qualified to be appointed as an Adviser under this article:

Provided, that if such retired Judge is not available or is not willing to hold the office of Chief Adviser, the President shall appoint as Chief Adviser the person who among the retired Judges of the Appellate Division retired next before the last such retired Judge.

    (5) If no retired judge of the Appellate Division is available or willing to hold the office of Chief Adviser, the President shall, after consultation, as far as practicable, with the major political parties, appoint the Chief Adviser from among citizens of Bangladesh who are qualified to be appointed as Advisers under this article.

     (6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, if the provisions of clauses (3), (4) and (5) cannot be given effect to, the President shall assume the functions of the Chief Adviser of the Non-Party Care-taker Government in addition to his own functions under this Constitution.

    (7) The President shall appoint Advisers from among the persons who are-


     (8) The Advisers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Chief Adviser.

   (9) The Chief Adviser or an Adviser may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the President.

   (10) The Chief Adviser or an Adviser shall cease to be Chief Adviser or Adviser if he is disqualified to be appointed as such under this article.

     (11) The Chief Adviser shall have the status, and shall be entitled to the remuneration and privileges, of a Prime Minister and an Adviser shall have the status, and shall be entitled to the remuneration and privileges, of a Minister.

    (12) The Non-Party Care-taker Government shall stand dissolved on the date on which the prime Minister enters upon his office after the constitution of new parliament.   

58D.     Functions of Non-Party Care-taker Government   

    (1) The Non-Party Care-taker Government shall discharge its functions as an interim government and shall carry on the routine functions of such government with the aid and assistance of persons in the services of the Republic; and, except in the case of necessity for the discharge of such functions its shall not make any policy decision.

    (2) The Non-Party Care-taker Government shall give to the Election Commission all possible aid and assistance that may be required for bolding the general election of members of parliament peacefully, fairly and impartially.   

58E.     Certain provisions of the Constitution to remain ineffective   

    Notwithstanding anything contained in articles 48(3), 141A(1) and 141C(1) of the Constitution, during the period the Non-Party Care-taker government is functioning, provisions in the constitution requiring the President to act on the advice of the Prime Minister or upon his prior counter-signature shall be ineffective."

59.     Local Government   

    (1) Local Government in every administrative unit of the Republic shall be entrusted to bodies, composed of persons elected in accordance with law.

     (2) Everybody such as is referred to in clause (1) shall, subject to this Constitution and any other law, perform within the appropriate administrative unit such functions as shall be prescribed by Act of Parliament, which may include functions relating to-


60.     Powers of local government bodies   
    For the purpose of giving full effect to the provisions of article 59 Parliament shall, by law, confer powers on the local government bodies referred to in that article, including power to impose taxes for local purposes, to prepare their budgets and to maintain funds.


61.     Supreme Command   

    The supreme command of the defence services of Bangladesh shall vest in the President and the exercise thereof shall be regulated by law 27cand such law shall, during the period in which there is a Non-Party Care-taker Government under article 58B, be administered by the President.   

62.     Recruitment, etc., of defence services   

    (1) Parliament shall by law provide for regulating-


    (2) Until Parliament by law provides for the matters specified in clause (1) the President may, by order, provide for such of them as are not already subject to existing law.   

63.     War   

    (1) War shall not be declared and the Republic shall not participate in any war except with the assent of Parliament.


64.     The Attorney-General   

    (1) The President shall appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court to be Attorney-General for Bangladesh.

   (2) The Attorney-General shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the President.

     (3) In the performance of his duties, the Attorney-General shall have the right of audience in all courts of Bangladesh.

    (4) The Attorney-General shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, and shall receive such remuneration as the President may determine.

65.     Establishment of Parliament   

    (1) There shall be a Parliament for Bangladesh (to be known as the House of the Nation) in which subject to the provisions of this Constitution, shall be vested the legislative powers of the Republic:

Provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from delegating to any person or authority, by Act of Parliament, power to make orders, rules, regulations, bye-laws or other instruments having legislative effect.

    (2) Parliament shall consist of three hundred members to be elected in accordance with law from single territorial constituencies by direct election and, for so long as clause (3) is effective, the members provided for in that clause; the member shall be designated as Members of Parliament.

    (3) Until the dissolution of Parliament occurring next after the expiration of the period of ten years beginning from the date of the first meeting of the Parliament next after the Parliament in existence at the time of the commencement of the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 2004, there shall be reserved forty five seats exclusively for women members and they will be elected by the aforesaid members in accordance with law on the basis of procedure of proportional representation in the Parliament through single transferable vote :

Provided, that nothing in this clause shall be deemed to prevent a woman from being elected to any of the seats provided for in clause (2) of this article.

     (4) The seat of Parliament shall be in the capital.   

66.     Qualifications and disqualifications for election to Parliament   

    (1) A person shall subject to the provisions of clause (2), be qualified to be elected as, and to be, a member of Parliament if he is a citizen of Bangladesh and has attained the age of twenty-five years.

    (2) A person shall be disqualified for election as, or for being, a member of Parliament who-


     (2A) For the purposes of this article a person shall not be deemed to hold an office of profit in the service of the Republic by reason only that he is a President, Prime Minister, Minister, Minister of State or Deputy Minister.

   (4) If any dispute arises as to whether a member of Parliament has, after his election, become subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in clause (2) or as to whether a member of Parliament should vacate his seat pursuant to article 70, the dispute shall be referred to the Election Commission to hear and determine it and the decision of the Commission on such reference shall be final.

     (5) Parliament may, by law, make such provision as it deems necessary for empowering the Election Commission to give full effect to the provisions of clause (4).   

67.     Vacation of seats of members   

    (1) A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat-