Bangladesh Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Type: republic; under martial law since 24 March 1982

Capital: Dhaka

Political subdivisions: 4 divisions, 21 regions, 64 districts, 495 thanas (rural townships consisting of 4,472 unions or village groupings)

Legal system: martial law currently prevails and civilian legal system suspended; traditionally based on English common law; constitution adopted December 1972, amended January 1975 to more authoritarian presidential system, and changed by proclamation in April 1977 to reflect Islamic character of nation; further change, by proclama tion in December 1978, provided for the appointment of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and other Cabinet-rank ministers and defined the powers of the President

National holiday: National Day, 26 March;

Victory Day, 16 December

Branches: constitution (currently suspended) provides for unicameral legislature (Parliament), strong President; independent judiciary; President has substantial control over the judiciary

Government leaders: Lt. Gen. Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD, President (since December 1983) and Chief Martial Law Administrator (since March 1982)

Suffrage-universal over age 18

Elections some local elections held in December 1983; higher local elections held in May 1985; presidential and parliamentary elections may be held in 1986

Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Begum Ziaur Rahman; Awami League, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, United People’s Party, Kazi Zafar Ahmed; Democratic League, Khondakar Mushtaque Ahmed: Muslim League, Khan A. Sabur; Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (National Socialist Party), M. A Jalil; Bangladesh Communist Party (pro-Soviet), Mohammad Farhad: numerous small parties; political activity banned following March 1982 coup; ban lifted in March 1984, reimposed in March 1985, and lifted again in January 1986

Communists: 2,500 members (est.)

Member of: ADB, Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity Organization, Celembo Plan, Commonwealth, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, 1DB—Islamic Development Bank IFAD, IFC, 1LO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IRC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WFTU, WMO, WTO

NOTE: The information regarding Bangladesh on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bangladesh 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bangladesh 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.