DOCSLIB.ORG

Amendments to the Constitut Background, Poli Dments to The

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Amendments to the Constitut Background, Poli Dments to The Amendments to the Constitution of Bangladesh 1973-2011: Background, Politics and Impacts Thesis Submitted for M Phil Degree By Salma Akther Department of Political Science University of Dhaka Thesis Completed under the supervision of Professor Dr. Shawkat Ara Husain Department of Political Science University of Dhaka Date of Submission February 2016 ii Declaration I declare that this thesis on ‘Amendments to the Constitution of Bangladesh 1973-2011: Background, Politics and Impacts’ is my original work and I have completed it under the supervision of Professor Dr. Shawkat Ara Husain. I also declare that no part of the thesis has been published and submitted to be published anywhere. (Salma Akther) M Phil Researcher Department of Political Science University of Dhaka Dhaka University Institutional Repository Credentials It is to certify that Salma Akther has completed her thesis entitled ‘Amendments to the Constitution of Bangladesh 1973-2011: Background, Politics and Impacts’ under my supervision. This is her original work. To the best of my knowledge, no part of the thesis has been published or submitted to any person or organization for publication. I wish her success Professor Dr. Shawkat Ara Husain Department of Political Science University of Dhaka Dhaka University Institutional Repository Acknowledgement All praise is due to, almighty Allah who has given me the ability to conduct the research. It has been an honor and great privilege for me to have Professor Dr. Shawkat Ara Husain of the Department of Political Science of the University of Dhaka as my thesis supervisor. Professor Shawkat Ara Husain has given invaluable suggestions and constructive direction regarding my study. Without her supervision and monitoring the study would have been impossible. I offer my sincere appreciation for the learning opportunities provided by my supervisor. My completion of this study could not have been accomplished without the support of my friend Mahfuj Khan– thank you for allowing me time away from you to research and write. Thanks to my parents as well. I also extended my appreciation for the effort of the officers and staff of libraries including the University of Dhaka Library, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Library, public Library, Sylhet for the assistance they offered me during research work through the relevant books, newspapers and other materials. Finally, to my caring and supportive husband, Shuyab A Khan: my deepest gratitude. Your encouragement when the times got rough are much appreciated and duly noted. My heartfelt thanks. None of the above persons, but I am alone responsible for the shortcomings of the work. (Salma Akther) February 2016 Dhaka University Institutional Repository v Title of the Thesis Amendments to the Constitution of Bangladesh 1973-2011: Background, Politics and Impacts Name of the Researcher Salma Akther Department Political Science University of Dhaka Abstract The Constitution is the guide which leads a nation to the prosperity. A modern state cannot be thought of without it. So, after nine months long blood-shedding battle in 1971, Bangladesh achieved her long awaited independence and therefore, took an instant effort to formulate a constitution rapidly, based on the ideological spirit of the war of independence. However, to accommodate the demands and will of the people and even sometimes to fulfill the narrow interests of the rulers, Bangladesh Constitution has been amended several times. Except a few cases almost every amendments has a great political impacts in the constitution. The very first amendment of the constitution about war- crimes was filled-up the hope and aspiration of the people. Indeed, the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth amendments were enacted only achieving personal and political gain of the ruler. Moreover, reintroducing the parliament system by twelfth amendments got hail from the masses. Though the caretaker government system, is one of the finest invention by our parties for holding general election which adopted through thirteenth amendment after long chaotic process, did not last long for mistrust and distrust. The fourteenth amendment again created suspicion in the mind of the oppositions so it became worthwhile. The most aspired and comprehensive fifteenth amendment also induced a great debate among the political parties, intellectual part, constitution experts and masses. In view of all the circumstances, it is found that almost every adopted amendment in Bangladesh Constitution failed to meet the dream and the quest of the citizens for the narrow and mean interest of the rulers at different regime. Analyzing all these amendments of Bangladesh constitution it is said that for flourishing of democracy each government must undertake such rules in the constitution through amendment which are accepted by all. Dhaka University Institutional Repository Contents Declaration ii Credential iii Acknowledgement iv Abstract v Contents vi Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1. Introduction 2-4 2. Statement of the Problem 5 3. Objective of the Study 6 4. Significance of the Study 6 5. Methodology 6-7 6. Hypothesis of the study 7 7. Review of Literature 7-8 8. Chapters 8 9. Limitation of the Study 8 Chapter 2: Constitution and Amendment: An Overview 9 1. Constitution 11 1.1 Origin 11 1.2 History and Development 11 1.2.1 Ancient Mesopotamia 11-12 1.2.2 Antiquity 12-13 1.2.3 Middle Ages 13-15 1.2.4 Modern constitutions 15-16 1.2.5 Democratic constitutions 16-18 2. Constitution: A Few Scholars View 18-19 3. Amendment and Its Process: World Perspective 20 3.1 United States of America 20 3.2 Great Britain 20-21 3.3 France 21 3.4 Switzerland 21 3.5 Soviet Russia 21 3.6 India 21-22 3.7 Denmark 22 3.8 Estonia 23 3.9 Bangladesh 23-24 Chapter 3: Making of the Bangladesh Constitution: History and the Spirit of the War of Liberation 25 1. Bangladesh constitution 26 2 Liberation War and Bangladesh 26 2.1 Historical Background 26-28 Dhaka University Institutional Repository 3. History of Constitution Making 28 3.1 History of Constitutional Development in Bangladesh 28-29 3.1.1 The proclamation of independence 29 3.1.2 Laws Continuance Enforcement Order, 1971 29 3.1.3 The Provisional Constitution of Bangladesh Order, 1972 29 3.2 The Constituent Assembly Order 30 3.3 The First Session of the Constituent Assembly 30 3.4 The Second Session of the Constituent Assembly 31 3.5 The Final Approval of the Draft Constitution 31-32 Chapter 4: Amendments to the Constitution: From the First to the Fifteenth 34 1. First Amendment: Background 37 1.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 37 2. Second Amendment: Background 38 2.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 38 3. Third Amendment: Background 39 3.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 39 4. Fourth Amendment: Background 39-40 4.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 40 5. Fifth Amendment: Background 41 5.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 42 6. Sixth Amendment: Background 43 7. Seventh Amendment: Background 44 7.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 44 8. Eighth Amendment: Background 44 8.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 45 9. Ninth Amendment: Background 45 9.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 46 10. Tenth Amendment: Background 46 10.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 46 11. Eleven and Twelfth Amendment: Background 47 11.1 Subject matter of the Eleventh Amendment 47 11.2 Subject matter of the Twelfth Amendment 48 12. Thirteenth Amendment: Background 49-50 12.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 50 12.2 Salient Features of Bangladesh’s Caretaker Government 50-53 13. Fourteenth Amendment: Background 53 13.1 Subject matter of the Amendment 54 14. Fifteenth Amendment: Background 54 14.1 Salient Features of the Fifteenth Amendment 55-56 Dhaka University Institutional Repository Chapter 5: Politics and Impacts of the Constitutional Amendments 57 1. First Amendment: Evaluation 58 2. Second Amendment: Evaluation 58-59 3. Third Amendment: Evaluation 60-62 4. Fourth Amendment: Evaluation 63-66 5. Fifth Amendment: Evaluation 66-69 6. Sixth Amendment: Evaluation 69 7. Seventh Amendment: Evaluation 69-70 8. Eighth Amendment: Evaluation 70-75 9. Ninth Amendment: Evaluation 75-76 10. Tenth Amendment: Evaluation 76 11. Eleventh Amendment and Twelfth Amendment: Evaluation 76-79 12. Thirteenth Amendment: Evaluation 80-88 13. Fourteenth Amendment: Evaluation 89-92 14. Fifteenth Amendment: Evaluation 93-96 Chapter 6: Conclusion: Prospects of Constitutional Politics and Democracy in Bangladesh 98-102 Appendices 104-182 Bibliography 184 Dhaka University Institutional Repository Chapter 1: Introduction 2 1. Introduction The word ‘Constitution’ is commonly used in at least two senses in any ordinary discussion of political affairs. First of it is used to describes the whole system of government of a country, the collection of rules which established and regulate or govern the government. These rules are partly legal, in the sense that courts of law will recognize and apply them, and partly non legal or extra legal, taking the form of usages, understanding, customs and conventions which courts do not recognize as law but which are not less effective in regulating the government than the rule of law strictly so called. In most countries of the world the system of government is composed of this mixture of legal and no legal rules and it is possible to speak of this collection of rules as ‘Constitution.’1 The wider meaning of the constitution is found in the Bolingbroke writing on his essay “On Parties’- “ By constitution, we mean, whenever we speak with propriety and exactness, that assemblage of laws, institutions and customs, derived from certain fixed principles of reason… that compose the general system, according to which the community hath agreed to be governed.” 2 Tom Ginsburg view is, Constitution, it has been said, “operate in time, seeking to regulate the future on behalf of the past.”3 James Madison said “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Odhikar's Fact Finding Report/5 and 6 May 2013/Hefazate Islam, Motijheel
    Odhikar’s Fact Finding Report/5 and 6 May 2013/Hefazate Islam, Motijheel/Page-1 Summary of the incident Hefazate Islam Bangladesh, like any other non-political social and cultural organisation, claims to be a people’s platform to articulate the concerns of religious issues. According to the organisation, its aims are to take into consideration socio-economic, cultural, religious and political matters that affect values and practices of Islam. Moreover, protecting the rights of the Muslim people and promoting social dialogue to dispel prejudices that affect community harmony and relations are also their objectives. Instigated by some bloggers and activists that mobilised at the Shahbag movement, the organisation, since 19th February 2013, has been protesting against the vulgar, humiliating, insulting and provocative remarks in the social media sites and blogs against Islam, Allah and his Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (pbuh). In some cases the Prophet was portrayed as a pornographic character, which infuriated the people of all walks of life. There was a directive from the High Court to the government to take measures to prevent such blogs and defamatory comments, that not only provoke religious intolerance but jeopardise public order. This is an obligation of the government under Article 39 of the Constitution. Unfortunately the Government took no action on this. As a response to the Government’s inactions and its tacit support to the bloggers, Hefazate Islam came up with an elaborate 13 point demand and assembled peacefully to articulate their cause on 6th April 2013. Since then they have organised a series of meetings in different districts, peacefully and without any violence, despite provocations from the law enforcement agencies and armed Awami League activists.
    [Show full text]
  • Copyright © and Moral Rights for This Phd Thesis Are Retained by the Author And/Or Other Copyright Owners
    Khan, Adeeba Aziz (2015) Electoral institutions in Bangladesh : a study of conflicts between the formal and the informal. PhD Thesis. SOAS, University of London. http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/23587 Copyright © and Moral Rights for this PhD Thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non‐commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This PhD Thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this PhD Thesis, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the PhD Thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full PhD Thesis title", name of the School or Department, PhD PhD Thesis, pagination. Electoral Institutions in Bangladesh: A Study of Conflicts Between the Formal and the Informal Adeeba Aziz Khan Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD in Law 2015 Department of Law SOAS, University of London I have read and understood regulation 17.9 of the Regulations for students of the SOAS, University of London concerning plagiarism. I undertake that all the material presented for examination is my own work and has not been written for me, in whole or in part, by any other person. I also undertake that any quotation or paraphrase from the published or unpublished work of another person has been duly acknowledged in the work which I present for examination.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Introduction
    210 Notes Notes 1Introduction 1 See Taj I. Hashmi, ‘Islam in Bangladesh Politics’, in H. Mutalib and T.I. Hashmi (eds), Islam, Muslims and the Modern State, pp. 100–34. 2The Government of Bangladesh, The Constitution of the People’s Repub- lic of Bangladesh, Section 28 (1 & 2), Government Printing Press, Dhaka, 1990, p. 19. 3See Coordinating Council for Human Rights in Bangladesh, (CCHRB) Bangladesh: State of Human Rights, 1992, CCHRB, Dhaka; Rabia Bhuiyan, Aspects of Violence Against Women, Institute of Democratic Rights, Dhaka, 1991; US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Prac- tices for 1992, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1993; Rushdie Begum et al., Nari Nirjatan: Sangya O Bishleshon (Bengali), Narigrantha Prabartana, Dhaka, 1992, passim. 4 CCHRB Report, 1993, p. 69. 5 Immigration and Refugee Board (Canada), Report, ‘Women in Bangla- desh’, Human Rights Briefs, Ottawa, 1993, pp. 8–9. 6Ibid, pp. 9–10. 7 The Daily Star, 18 January 1998. 8Rabia Bhuiyan, Aspects of Violence, pp. 14–15. 9 Immigration and Refugee Board Report, ‘Women in Bangladesh’, p. 20. 10 Taj Hashmi, ‘Islam in Bangladesh Politics’, p. 117. 11 Immigration and Refugee Board Report, ‘Women in Bangladesh’, p. 6. 12 Tazeen Mahnaz Murshid, ‘Women, Islam, and the State: Subordination and Resistance’, paper presented at the Bengal Studies Conference (28–30 April 1995), Chicago, pp. 1–2. 13 Ibid, pp. 4–5. 14 U.A.B. Razia Akter Banu, ‘Jamaat-i-Islami in Bangladesh: Challenges and Prospects’, in Hussin Mutalib and Taj Hashmi (eds), Islam, Muslim and the Modern State, pp. 86–93. 15 Lynne Brydon and Sylvia Chant, Women in the Third World: Gender Issues in Rural and Urban Areas, p.
    [Show full text]
  • Students, Space, and the State in East Pakistan/Bangladesh 1952-1990
    1 BEYOND LIBERATION: STUDENTS, SPACE, AND THE STATE IN EAST PAKISTAN/BANGLADESH 1952-1990 A dissertation presented by Samantha M. R. Christiansen to The Department of History In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of History Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts September, 2012 2 BEYOND LIBERATION: STUDENTS, SPACE, AND THE STATE IN EAST PAKISTAN/BANGLADESH 1952-1990 by Samantha M. R. Christiansen ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History in the Graduate School of Northeastern University September, 2012 3 ABSTRACT This dissertation examines the history of East Pakistan/Bangladesh’s student movements in the postcolonial period. The principal argument is that the major student mobilizations of Dhaka University are evidence of an active student engagement with shared symbols and rituals across time and that the campus space itself has served as the linchpin of this movement culture. The category of “student” developed into a distinct political class that was deeply tied to a concept of local place in the campus; however, the idea of “student” as a collective identity also provided a means of ideological engagement with a globally imagined community of “students.” Thus, this manuscript examines the case study of student mobilizations at Dhaka University in various geographic scales, demonstrating the levels of local, national and global as complementary and interdependent components of social movement culture. The project contributes to understandings of Pakistan and Bangladesh’s political and social history in the united and divided period, as well as provides a platform for analyzing the historical relationship between social movements and geography that is informative to a wide range of disciplines.
    [Show full text]
  • Bangladesh Strategizing Communication in Commercialization of Biotech Crops
    Strategizing Communication in Commercialization of Biotech Crops 9 Bangladesh Strategizing Communication in Commercialization of Biotech Crops Khondoker M. Nasiruddin angladesh is on the verge of adopting genetically modified (GM) crops for commercial cultivation and consumption as feed and Bfood. Many laboratories are engaged in tissue culture and molecular characterization of plants, whereas some have started GM research despite shortage of trained manpower, infrastructure, and funding. Nutritionally improved Golden Rice, Bt brinjal, and late blight resistant potato are in contained trial in glasshouses while papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) resistant papaya is under approval process for field trial. The government has taken initiatives to support GM research which include the establishment of a Biotechnology Department in all relevant institutes, and the formation of an apex body referred to as the National Task Force Chapter 9 203 Khondoker M. Nasiruddin he world’s largest delta, Bangladesh BANGLADESH is a very small country in Asia with Tonly 55,598 square miles of land. It is between India which borders almost two-thirds of the territory, and is bounded by Burma to TRY PROFILE TRY the east and south and Nepal to the north. N Despite being small in size, it is home to nearly 130 million people with a population density COU of nearly 2000 per square miles, one of the highest in the world. About 85% live in rural villages and 15% in the urban areas. The country is agricultural where 80% of the people depend on this industry. Fertile alluvial soil of the Ganges- Meghna-Brahmaputra delta coupled with high rainfall and easy cultivation favor agricultural development (Choudhury and Islam, 2002).
    [Show full text]
  • English Language Newspaper Readability in Bangladesh
    Advances in Journalism and Communication, 2016, 4, 127-148 http://www.scirp.org/journal/ajc ISSN Online: 2328-4935 ISSN Print: 2328-4927 Small Circulation, Big Impact: English Language Newspaper Readability in Bangladesh Jude William Genilo1*, Md. Asiuzzaman1, Md. Mahbubul Haque Osmani2 1Department of Media Studies and Journalism, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2News and Current Affairs, NRB TV, Toronto, Canada How to cite this paper: Genilo, J. W., Abstract Asiuzzaman, Md., & Osmani, Md. M. H. (2016). Small Circulation, Big Impact: Eng- Academic studies on newspapers in Bangladesh revolve round mainly four research lish Language Newspaper Readability in Ban- streams: importance of freedom of press in dynamics of democracy; political econo- gladesh. Advances in Journalism and Com- my of the newspaper industry; newspaper credibility and ethics; and how newspapers munication, 4, 127-148. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajc.2016.44012 can contribute to development and social change. This paper looks into what can be called as the fifth stream—the readability of newspapers. The main objective is to Received: August 31, 2016 know the content and proportion of news and information appearing in English Accepted: December 27, 2016 Published: December 30, 2016 language newspapers in Bangladesh in terms of story theme, geographic focus, treat- ment, origin, visual presentation, diversity of sources/photos, newspaper structure, Copyright © 2016 by authors and content promotion and listings. Five English-language newspapers were selected as Scientific Research Publishing Inc. per their officially published circulation figure for this research. These were the Daily This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International Star, Daily Sun, Dhaka Tribune, Independent and New Age.
    [Show full text]
  • Factors That Push Bangladeshi Media to Exercise Self-Censorship
    University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations August 2020 Factors That Push Bangladeshi Media to Exercise Self-Censorship Abu Taib Ahmed University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.uwm.edu/etd Part of the Journalism Studies Commons Recommended Citation Ahmed, Abu Taib, "Factors That Push Bangladeshi Media to Exercise Self-Censorship" (2020). Theses and Dissertations. 2445. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/2445 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by UWM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UWM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FACTORS THAT PUSH BANGLADESHI MEDIA TO EXERCISE SELF-CENSORSHIP by Abu Taib Ahmed A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts in Media Studies at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee August 2020 ABSTRACT FACTORS THAT PUSH BANGLADESHI MEDIA TO EXERCISE SELF-CENSORSHIP by Abu Taib Ahmed The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2020 Under the Supervision of Professor David S. Allen Self-censorship is one of the biggest threats to press freedom. Press freedom, as well as freedom of the expression, is an indicator of a society’s freedom and democracy. If the media cannot act freely, it can impact society’s ability to function as a democracy. Journalists often face pressures from various power structures to engage in self-censorship. While journalistic self- censorship has been examined in a number of different countries, no studies of journalistic self- censorship in Bangladesh have been undertaken or no studies have been undertaken to see what factors influence journalists to exercise self-censorship or to figure out reasons that make journalists in Bangladesh filter media content.
    [Show full text]
  • Sensitive Space Along the India-Bangladesh Border
    THE FRAGMENTS AND THEIR NATION(S): SENSITIVE SPACE ALONG THE INDIA-BANGLADESH BORDER A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Jason Cons January 2011 © 2011 Jason Cons THE FRAGMENTS AND THEIR NATION(S): SENSITIVE SPACE ALONG THE INDIA-BANGLADESH BORDER Jason Cons, Ph.D. Cornell University 2011 Borders are often described as “sensitive” areas—exceptional and dangerous spaces at once central to national imaginaries and at the limits of state control. Yet what does sensitivity mean for those who live in, and those who are in charge of regulating, such spaces? Why do these areas persist as spaces of conflict and confusion? This dissertation explores these questions in relation to a series of enclaves—sovereign pieces of India inside of Bangladesh and vice versa—clustered along the Northern India–Bangladesh border. In it, I develop the notion of “sensitivity” as an analytic for understanding spaces like the enclaves, showing how they are zones within which postcolonial fears about sovereignty, security, identity, and national survival become mapped onto territory. I outline the politics of sensitivity and the production of sensitive space through both historical and ethnographic research. First, I explore the ways that ambiguity and vague fears about security and citizenship emerge as forms of moral regulation within and in relation to the enclaves. Specifically, I interrogate the processes through which information about the enclaves is regulated and policed and the ambiguity, suspicion, and insecurity that emerge out of such practices.
    [Show full text]
  • The Use of Excessive Force During Bangladesh Protests WATCH
    HUMAN RIGHTS BLOOD ON THE STREETS The Use of Excessive Force during Bangladesh Protests WATCH Blood on the Streets The Use of Excessive Force during Bangladesh Protests Copyright © 2013 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-6231-30404 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org AUGUST 2013 978-1-6231-30404 Blood on the Streets The Use of Excessive Force during Bangladesh Protests Map of Bangladesh ...................................................................................................................... i Summary ...................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • BANGLADESH: from AUTOCRACY to DEMOCRACY (A Study of the Transition of Political Norms and Values)
    BANGLADESH: FROM AUTOCRACY TO DEMOCRACY (A Study of the Transition of Political Norms and Values) By Golam Shafiuddin THESIS Submitted to School of Public Policy and Global Management, KDI in partial fulfillment of the requirements the degree of MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY 2002 BANGLADESH: FROM AUTOCRACY TO DEMOCRACY (A Study of the Transition of Political Norms and Values) By Golam Shafiuddin THESIS Submitted to School of Public Policy and Global Management, KDI in partial fulfillment of the requirements the degree of MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY 2002 Professor PARK, Hun-Joo (David) ABSTRACT BANGLADESH: FROM AUTOCRACY TO DEMOCRACY By Golam Shafiuddin The political history of independent Bangladesh is the history of authoritarianism, argument of force, seizure of power, rigged elections, and legitimacy crisis. It is also a history of sustained campaigns for democracy that claimed hundreds of lives. Extremely repressive measures taken by the authoritarian rulers could seldom suppress, or even weaken, the movement for the restoration of constitutionalism. At times the means adopted by the rulers to split the opposition, create a democratic facade, and confuse the people seemingly served the rulers’ purpose. But these definitely caused disenchantment among the politically conscious people and strengthened their commitment to resistance. The main problems of Bangladesh are now the lack of national consensus, violence in the politics, hartal (strike) culture, crimes sponsored with political ends etc. which contribute to the negation of democracy. Besides, abject poverty and illiteracy also does not make it easy for the democracy to flourish. After the creation of non-partisan caretaker government, the chief responsibility of the said government was only to run the routine administration and take all necessary measures to hold free and fair parliamentary elections.
    [Show full text]
  • Problems of Women's Political Participation in Bangladesh
    Problems of Women’s Political Participation in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study By Farah Deeba Chowdhury Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in the Joint Women’s Studies Programme at Mount Saint Vincent University Saint Mary’s University Halifax, NS 09/06/2004 © Copyright by Farah Deeba Chowdhury, 10/06/2004 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1^1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisisitons et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 0-612-92709-1 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 0-612-92709-1 The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of theL'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither thedroit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from Niit la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou aturement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. In compliance with the Canadian Conformément à la loi canadienne Privacy Act some supporting sur la protection de la vie privée, forms may have been removed quelques formulaires secondaires from this dissertation.
    [Show full text]
  • Searching a Better Alternative Way of Hartal Culture in Bangladesh
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 4, ISSUE 01, JANUARY 2015 ISSN 2277-8616 Road March: Searching a Better Alternative Way of Hartal Culture in Bangladesh Md. Mahbub Alam Prodip, A.H.M Kamrul Ahasan, Md. Liton Hossen Abstract : The political parties introduced various kinds of political cultures in the political avenue after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Hartal is one of the most indispensable measures that political parties use to achieve their goals as well as to ensure the desire and demand of mass people. It was vastly used to overthrow autocratic regime to retain the Parliamentary form of democracy and to introduce a Non-party Caretaker Government system in Bangladesh. However, hartal is losing popularity due to its destructive features. In recent years, people expect that political Parties should maneuver new programs which will not make any negative impact on their daily life and country’s dynamics. In response to people’s demand, political Parties have been complied to precede new features in Bangladesh politics. Thus, Road March has been emerged as an in-offensive, non-violent and a peaceful way of protest of political parties. The paper depends on secondary materials including books, journal articles and contemporary newspapers. The study revealed that road March is a peaceful and non violent way of achieving goals of political parties rather than hartal with popular supports. Index Terms : Political Culture, Hartal, Changing View, Alternative Way and Road March. ———————————————————— 1 INTRODUCTION 2 POLITICAL CULTURE The political parties introduced diverse political cultures in Political culture can be defined as a set of attitudes, beliefs, political arena after the independence of Bangladesh.
    [Show full text]