PART 1
THE REPUBLIC
1.
The Republic: Bangladesh is a unitary,
independent, sovereign Republic to be known as People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
2.
The territory of the Republic : The territory
of the Republic shall compromise-
(a) The
territories which immediately before the Proclamation of Independence on the 26th
day of March, 1971 constituted East Pakistan 1[and the territories
referred to as included territories in the Constitution (Third Amendment) Act,
1974, but excluding the territories referred to as excluded territories in that
Act; and]
(b) Such other territories as may become included
in Bangladesh.
1
Substituted for the semi-colon and word
“and” by the Constitution (Third Amendment) Act, 1974 (Act LXXIV of 1974),
section 3. But its effectiveness is subject to gazette notification under
section 4 of that Act.
2[2A.
The state religion: The state religion of the Republic is Islam, but the State
shall ensure equal status and equal right in, the practice of the Hindu,
Buddhist, Christian and other religions.]
2
Article 2A was substituted by the Constitution (Fifteen Amendment) Act,
2011 (Act XIV of 2011) section 4.
3.
The
state language: The state language of the Republic is 3[Bangla].
4.
National
anthem, flag and emblem: (1) National anthem of the Republic is the first ten
lines of “Amar Sonar Bangla”.
(2) The national flag of the Republic
shall consist of a circle, coloured red throughout its area, resting on a green
background.
(3) The national emblem of the Republic
is the national flower Shapla (numphoea nouchali) resting on water, having on
each side an ear of paddy and being surmounted by three connected leaves of
jute with two stars on each side of the leaves.
3
Substitution for the word “Bangali” by the
Constitution (Eighth Amendment) Act, 1988 (Act XXX of 1988) section 3.
4
Subject to the foregoing clauses,
provisions relating to the national anthem, flag and emblem shall be made by law.
4[4A.
Portrait of the Father of the Nation : The Portrait of the Father of the Nation
, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman shall be preserved and displayed at the
offices of the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker and the Chief Justice
and in head and branch offices, autonomous bodies, statutory public
authorities, government and semi-government offices, autonomous bodies,
statutory public authorities, government and non-government educational
institutions, embassies and missions of Bangladesh abroad.]
5.
(1) The Capital : The capital of
Republic is 5[Dhaka]
4
Article 4A was substituted by the
Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 2011 (Act XIV of 2011) section 5.
5
The word “Dhaka” was substituted, for
the word “Dacca” by the C onstitution (Eight Amendment) Act, 1988 (Act XXX of
1988).
(2)
The boundaries of the capital shall be
determined by law.