CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN BANGLADESH: POLITICAL TRENDS AND DEBATES

Authors

  • Md. Emdadul Haque Southeast University,

Abstract

Since inception, the constitution and constitutional amendments in Bangladesh have encountered multifarious controversies. Immature political culture and confrontational political practices have now plunged the nation into deep crisis grappling with bad governance. Democratic deficiency in political parties and overt politicisation of democratic institutions targeting political maneuvering has been the most serious impediment for nurturing and raising the ‘third wave of democracy’ emerged with the 12th amendment of the constitution in 1991. The sharp manipulation of constitutional amendments for political gain in the country is carried out by Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jatiya Party (JP). These trios are more or less equally responsible for the present status of constitutional politics and fragile democracy. However, as a guardian of constitution, the Supreme Court (SC) under the constitutional mandates has tried to protect the sacred document emanated from the will of the people. Like the legislatures the political value loaded role of judges in deciding the constitutionality of some amendments is not beyond question. Now it is a daunting challenge for the lawmakers, politicians, judges, other intelligentsia to overcome the existing political hurdles and constitutional crisis of the nation. This study analyses the political context of the constitutional amendments in Bangladesh and their impacts along with their aftermaths. This study also sheds light on the past and present trends of politicisation and ramifications of the deleted and existing amendments with some recommendations for the amelioration of the present crisis.   

Author Biography

Md. Emdadul Haque, Southeast University,

Assistant Professor at the Department of Law and Justice of  Southeast University,

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Published

2018-01-01

How to Cite

Haque, M. E. (2018). CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN BANGLADESH: POLITICAL TRENDS AND DEBATES. Journal of Asian and African Social Science and Humanities, 3(4), 56–83. Retrieved from https://www.aarcentre.com/ojs3/index.php/jaash/article/view/132

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