ABSTRACT
The proclamation of an emergency is a formal attempt to establish a system of rule in times of grave crises. Since the incorporation of provisions concerning emergency into the Constitution of Bangladesh on 22 September 1973, emergencies have been proclaimed on five occasions – on 28 December 1974, 30 May 1981, 27 November 1987, 27 November 1990, and 11 January 2007 – on the ground of internal disturbance. Insertion of internal disturbance as a ground for proclaiming emergency into the amended Constitution of Bangladesh in 1973 was not only acceptable to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, but he also advised the President to declare an emergency on the wide and vague ground of internal disturbance. The Emergency Powers Ordinance empowered the Government to make 'such rules as appeared to it to be necessary or expedient for ensuring security, public safety, and interest and for protecting the economic life of Bangladesh or for maintaining supplies or services essential to life of community'.
