Decoding the Constitution of Bangladesh: Understanding the Amendment Process and Its Implications

Amendment of the Constitution of Bangladesh

The Constitution of Bangladesh is the supreme law of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 4, 1972, and became effective on December 16, 1972. The Constitution has been amended 17 times as of 2018.

Amendment Process

The process of amending the Constitution is described in Article 144 of the Constitution. This article states that any provision of the Constitution may be amended by a bill introduced in Parliament. If the bill is passed by a two-thirds majority of Parliament, it becomes law upon receiving the President's assent.

The amendment process can be divided into the following steps:

1. Introduction of the Bill: To amend the Constitution, a bill must first be introduced in Parliament. This bill can be introduced by any member of Parliament, the government, or the opposition.
2. Bill Discussion: After the bill is introduced in Parliament, it is referred to various standing committees for discussion. The committees examine the bill and report back to Parliament.
3. Bill Passage: If the bill is passed by a two-thirds majority of Parliament, it is sent to the President for approval.
4. Presidential Approval: If the President approves the bill, the Constitution is amended.

Avoiding Repetition in the Amendment Process

The following steps can be taken to make the amendment process more effective and avoid repetition:

• Ensure greater transparency and accountability in the introduction of bills: Constitutional amendment is an important issue. Therefore, it is important to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the introduction of bills on this issue. Before introducing a bill, members of Parliament must be fully informed about the purpose and importance of the bill.
• Provide more time and opportunity for bill discussion: Constitutional amendments have a wide range of impacts. Therefore, more time and opportunity should be given for bill discussion. Members of Parliament should be given the opportunity to discuss the bill in detail.
• Make more thoughtful decisions when passing bills: Constitutional amendments have long-term implications. Therefore, more thoughtful decisions should be made when passing bills. Members of Parliament should make decisions after considering the potential benefits and drawbacks of the bill.

Examples of Constitutional Amendments

The Constitution of Bangladesh has been amended 17 times in its history. These amendments have changed various provisions of the Constitution.

For example, the first amendment in 1975 increased the President's power. The fourth amendment in 1979 reduced the President's executive power. The eleventh amendment in 1991 introduced the caretaker government system. The fifteenth amendment in 2011 re-established secularism.

Conclusion

Amending the Constitution is a complex and important process. The steps mentioned above can be taken to make this process more effective and avoid repetition.