Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz has published a chapter on constitutionalism and politics in Bangladesh in an edited volume titled A History of the Constitution of Bangladesh: The Founding, Development, and Way Ahead. In his chapter, “Constitutionalism interrupted or constitutionalism absent? The divergence of constitution and politics in Bangladesh,” Riaz argues that Bangladeshi politics have digressed from the constitutional promises. This chapter highlights constitutional changes, explores the reasons behind the divergence, and discusses the potential trajectories.
Riaz writes, “The constitution of Bangladesh was written in 1972 with the expectation that it will be the sextant of the nation’s governance and politics, but in the past 50 years, both governance and politics of the nation have veered away from the ideals of the constitution. The system of governance is far from the promise of inclusivity and representation. Civilian and military authoritarian rulers, in the first two decades, trampled the constitution and amended it several times to suit their interests. The post-1991 era of elected civilian regimes has not been different. Constitutional changes have made the legislature subservient to the executive, paved the way for a concentration of power at the hands of the Prime Minister, and undermined the process of participation of the citizens.” The book is published by Routledge.
