The Politics behind the Passage of Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Its Provisions: A Modest Analysis

Abstract

Awami League as a political party fought for establishing westminister system of democracy during her 24 years’ movement. For its realization it incorporated 6-point program of 1966, students’ 11-point program of 1969 and Legal Frame Work Order, 1970 in her election manifesto for 1970 general polls. But brutality of AL surfaced immediately after riding on the saddle of state power in 1972. The democratic norms and values nourished, cultured and practiced by AL leadership disappeared from the actions and working of AL government. In running the government it established authoritarian rule in place of secularized democracy. It termed the democratic opposition enemy of the state, and made the people their rival. As a result, AL government found itself totally isolated from the people. Under these circumstances it buried democracy for establishing so-called democracy of the exploited and oppressed people by constitutional amendment. This discourse is intended to reveal the motive of AL government behind fourth constitutional amendment and its effects on Bangladesh politics in short.

Keywords: Spirit of Liberation War, Democracy, Awami League, Corruption, Failure, Opposition, Movement.