08/07/2019
Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
people through their elected representatives in administration at all levels shall be ensured].
Secularism and freedom of
religion
16[ 12. The principle of secularism shall be realised by the elimination of
(a) communalism in all its forms ;
(b) the granting by the State of political
status in favour of any religion ;
(c) the abuse of religion for political purposes ;
persons practicing a particular religion.]
(d) any discrimination against, or persecution of,
Principles of ownership
13. The people shall own or control the instruments and means of production and distribution, and with this
end in view ownership shall assume the following forms –
(a) state ownership, that is ownership by the State on behalf of the people through the creation of an
efficient and dynamic nationalised public sector embracing the key sectors of the economy;
(b) co operative ownership, that is ownership by co operatives on behalf of their members within such limits
as may be prescribed by law; and
(c) private ownership, that is ownership by individuals within such limits as may be prescribed by law.
Emancipation of peasants
and workers
14. It shall be a fundamental responsibility of the State to emancipate the toiling masses the peasants and
workers and backward sections of the people from all forms of exploitation.
15. It shall be a fundamental responsibility of the State to attain, through planned economic growth, a
constant increase of productive forces and a steady improvement in the material and cultural standard of
living of the people, with a view to securing to its citizens –
(a) the provision of the basic necessities of life, including food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care;
(b) the right to work, that is the right to guaranteed employment at a reasonable wage having regard to the
quantity and quality of work;
(c) the right to reasonable rest, recreation and leisure; and
(d) the right to social security, that is to say, to public assistance in cases of undeserved want arising from
unemployment, illness or disablement, or suffered by widows or orphans or in old age, or in other such
cases.
16. The State shall adopt effective measures to bring about a radical transformation in the rural areas
through the promotion of an agricultural revolution, the provision of rural electrification, the development of
cottage and other industries, and the improvement of education, communications and public health, in those
areas, so as progressively to remove the disparity in the standards of living between the urban and the rural
areas.
17. The State shall adopt effective measures for the purpose of –
(a) establishing a uniform, mass oriented and universal system of education and extending free and
compulsory education to all children to such stage as may be determined by law;
(b) relating education to the needs of society and producing properly trained and motivated citizens to serve
those needs;
(c) removing illiteracy within such time as may be determined by law.
18. (1) The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the improvement of public health as
among its primary duties, and in particular shall adopt effective measures to prevent the consumption,
except for medical purposes or for such other purposes as may be prescribed by law, of alcoholic and other
intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.
(2) The State shall adopt effective measures to prevent prostitution and gambling.
17[ 18A.
Provision of basic necessities
Rural development and
agricultural revolution
Free and compulsory
education
Public health and morality
Protection and improvement
of environment and
bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/print_sections_all.php?id=367
The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to preserve and safeguard
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