Country Name

:

People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Short Form: Bangladesh

Data Code

:

BG

Government Type

:

Republic

Constitution

:

4th November 1972, effective from 16th December 1972.

Legal System

:

Based on English Common Law

Suffrage

:

18 years of Age.

Executive Branch

:

Chief of State: President
Head of Government: Elected Prime Minister Cabinet. Cabinet selected by the Prime Minister and appointed by the President.

Legislative Branch

:

Unicameral National Parliament (Jatiya Sangshad) – 330 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies.

Judicial Branch

:

Supreme Court. The Chief Justice and Judges are appointed by the President.

Political Parties

:

Major Political Parties
BNP – Bangladesh Nationalist Party
AL - Awami League
Jamaat - Jamaat-e-Islam
JP - Jatiyo Party
BCP – Bangladesh Communist Party

1

Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah as the basis of all actions.

2

Promotion of local government institutions.

3

Participation of women in national life.

4

Democracy & human rights.

5

Principles of state, co-operative and private ownership.

6

Emancipation of peasants and workers from all forms of exploitation.

7

Provision of basic necessities of life

8

Rural development and agricultural revolution

9

Free & compulsory primary education.

10

Free education for girls up to grade eight in all rural areas.

11

Promotion of family planning mother and child health care and reduction of fertility.

12

Improvement of public health and reductions of mortality and morbidity.

13

Ensuring equality and opportunity

14

Work as a right and duty for every able citizen.

15

Separation of judiciary from the executive.

16

Protection of national monuments, objects or places of special artistic or historic importance or interest.

17

Promotion of regional cooperation in the South Asia region through SAARC.

18

Promotion of international peace, security and solidarity and consolidation, preservation and strengthening fraternal relations among Muslim countries.

Equality of all citizens before law.

No discrimination against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, sex or place of birth.

Equality of opportunity in public employment.

Right to protection of law.

Probition of forced labour

Safeguards as to arrest and detention.

Protection in respect of trial and punishment.

Freedom of movement, assembly, association, thouhgt and con-science and of speech, profession or occupation and religion.

Rights of property.

Protection of the privacy of home and correspondence.

Enforcement of fundamental rights through courts of law.

Laws and enactment's inconsistennt with fundamental right are void.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh is the highest judicial organ in the country and comprises the Appellate Division and the High Court Division, The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and a number of other Judges. The Chief Justice and the Judges appointed to the Appellate Division sit only in that division and other Judges sit in the High Court Division  

The President appoints the Chief Justice and other Judges. A Judge holds office until he attains the age of 65 (sixty five) years.  

The Appellate Division hears and determines appeals from Judges, degrees, orders or sentences of the High Court Division  

The High Court Division has superintendence and control over the Subordinate Courts and functions as the Appellate Court.  

Administrative tribunals exercise jurisdiction in respect of matters as specified in the constitution. There are currently two administrative tribunals  

At the district level, the District Court is headed by the District and Sessions Judge who is assisted by Additional District Judges, Subordinate Judges, Assistant Judges and Magistrates