Rule of law in Bangladesh

This chapter discusses that the concept of rule of law in the context of Bangladesh is entrenched in the country's legal and constitutional order as an overarching normative imperative. The realisation of rule of law is deeply tied with political and social culture, tradition and practices. The chapter suggests that the quality of rule of law in Bangladesh has been often shaped and conditioned by such factors as instability and uncertainties in politics, politicisation of the judiciary, and the absence of enough ameliorative laws. It analyses three aspects of the Bangladesh rule of law – human rights performance, judicial independence and reform, and executive accountability. The notion of rule of law is embedded the imperative of emancipation of people from social injustices, which requires the effective and equal protection of both civil-political and social rights of all peoples including those who are often inappropriately called 'minorities'.