Journalist Amin Al Rasheed, an expert in Bangladeshi politics and parliamentary systems, presents his research-based book, titled Bangladesher Sangsadiyo Bitorko: Jatiyotabad, BAKSAL, Rastrodhormo o Onnanno (Parliamentary Debates of Bangladesh: Nationalism, BAKSAL, State Religion, and Others), at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair this year.
The book covers significant issues dealt with by the country’s twelve parliaments since the independence – starting from the Constituent Assembly formed to draft the Constitution after independence up to 2024. The book discusses key issues such as Bengali nationalism, Article 70 of the Constitution, a limit on individual property ownership, the state of emergency, BAKSAL, state religion, parliamentary governance, the caretaker government, the Fifteenth Amendment, the Ombudsman system, and some other crucial parliamentary debates, all of which are highly relevant to the current political landscape of Bangladesh, ensuring readers are engaged and interested.
According to Amin Al Rasheed, the primary objective of his book is to provide an understanding of the nature of parliamentary debates in Bangladesh and assess the country’s parliament’s effectiveness. It also attempts to highlight the deviations in Bangladesh’s practice of parliamentary democracy.
The book also explores major constitutional amendments that have altered the governance structure and intensified political crises. Readers will find insights into the parliamentary reactions during the passage of these amendments. For instance, Why did Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, despite being a nationalist and pro-democracy leader, establish a one-party system through BAKSAL? What was the process behind it? What kind of debates took place in the Constituent Assembly regarding Bengali nationalism, and why was this provision included in the Constitution? What were the arguments behind incorporating the provision of state religion into the Constitution, and how has this decision influenced the country’s politics? In the book, the author also tries to focus on the process behind the abolition of the caretaker government system and the underlying events that led to this significant decision.
The book consists of 16 chapters covering the concerns and realities of Article 70 of the Constitution, which restricts MPs’ freedom of speech in parliament, the enactment but non-implementation of the Ombudsman Act, and notable parliamentary exchanges such as politician Abdul Latif Siddiqui’s “Borshi Tattoo” (Fishing Rod Theory), as well as debates involving Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu and the widely-discussed MP Barrister Syedul Haque Sumon.
The final section of the book includes annotations on the Provisional Constitution Order, an introduction to the Westminster-style parliamentary system, the Constituent Assembly, the Constitution Drafting Committee, and six committee members’ Notes of Dissent.
Notably, Amin Al Rashid has authored several other books on parliament and the Constitution, including Songbidhan Pronetagon (2024), Songbidhaner Rajnoitik Bitorko (2020), Songbidhaner Ponchodosh Songshodhoni: Alochona-Torko-Bitorko (2011), and Sorkari Birodhi Dol (2015). Among his other works, Jibananonder Manchitro has been highly praised by readers.
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