Bangladesh Constitution Basics: questions and answers
Study every question with its correct answer and explanation.
1. How many articles does the Constitution of Bangladesh contain?
- A. 143
- B. 150
- C. 153
- D. 163
Answer: 153
The Constitution has 153 articles arranged in 11 Parts; articles added by later amendments are given letters (such as 7A), so the numbered total stays at 153. Article 7 declares the Constitution to be the supreme law of the Republic.
2. According to Article 1 of the Constitution, Bangladesh is what kind of republic?
- A. A federal republic
- B. A unitary republic
- C. A confederation
- D. A quasi-federal republic
Answer: A unitary republic
Article 1 declares Bangladesh a unitary, independent, sovereign Republic known as the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Being unitary, it has no provinces or states with their own separate governments, unlike federal India.
3. Which article of the Constitution declares Bangla to be the state language?
- A. Article 1
- B. Article 2
- C. Article 5
- D. Article 3
Answer: Article 3
Article 3 states that the state language of the Republic is Bangla. Article 4 deals with the national anthem, national flag and national emblem, and Article 5 names Dhaka as the capital.
4. Which of these was NOT one of the four fundamental principles of state policy in the original 1972 Constitution?
- A. Federalism
- B. Nationalism
- C. Socialism
- D. Secularism
Answer: Federalism
The original 1972 Constitution named nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism as the four fundamental principles of state policy. These principles appear in Part II of the Constitution, which is meant to guide lawmaking and governance.
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5. In which Part of the Constitution of Bangladesh are the Fundamental Rights set out?
- A. Part I
- B. Part II
- C. Part III
- D. Part IV
Answer: Part III
Fundamental Rights are in Part III (Articles 26–47), and a citizen can move the High Court Division under Article 102 to enforce them. By contrast, the Fundamental Principles of State Policy in Part II are not judicially enforceable.
6. Who chaired the committee that drafted the Constitution of Bangladesh in 1972?
- A. Tajuddin Ahmad
- B. Dr. Kamal Hossain
- C. Syed Nazrul Islam
- D. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury
Answer: Dr. Kamal Hossain
The 34-member Constitution Drafting Committee, formed in April 1972, was chaired by Dr. Kamal Hossain, then the Law Minister. Begum Razia Banu was the only woman member of the committee.
7. Who hand-wrote (calligraphed) the original manuscript of the Constitution of Bangladesh?
- A. A.K.M. Abdur Rouf
- B. Zainul Abedin
- C. Quamrul Hassan
- D. Murtaja Baseer
Answer: A.K.M. Abdur Rouf
The original handwritten Constitution was calligraphed by the artist A.K.M. Abdur Rouf. Its pages were decorated by a team of artists led by Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin.
8. What is the minimum age to be elected President of Bangladesh?
- A. 25 years
- B. 30 years
- C. 40 years
- D. 35 years
Answer: 35 years
Under Article 48, a person must be at least 35 years old and qualified to be elected a Member of Parliament in order to be elected President. The minimum age to become a Member of Parliament is 25 years (Article 66).
9. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh consists of which two divisions?
- A. Civil Division and Criminal Division
- B. Appellate Division and High Court Division
- C. Federal Court and Provincial Court
- D. High Court and District Court
Answer: Appellate Division and High Court Division
Article 94 establishes the Supreme Court of Bangladesh with an Appellate Division and a High Court Division. The Chief Justice of Bangladesh heads the Supreme Court and sits in the Appellate Division.
10. What majority in Parliament is required to pass a bill amending the Constitution of Bangladesh?
- A. A simple majority of members present
- B. Three-fifths of total members
- C. Two-thirds of total members
- D. Three-quarters of total members
Answer: Two-thirds of total members
Article 142 requires a constitutional amendment bill to be passed by the votes of at least two-thirds of the total number of Members of Parliament. The Constitution has been amended many times since 1972, with the first amendment passed in 1973.