Politics of Bangladesh takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Constitution of Bangladesh was written in 1972, and has undergone seventeen amendments.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party is a major political party in Bangladesh. Founded on 1 September 1978 by the late Bangladeshi president Ziaur Rahman, with a view of uniting people with a nationalist ideology, BNP later came out as one of the two most dominant parties in Bangladesh, along with its archrival Awami League. Initially being a big tent centrist party, it moved towards more right-wing politics later.
Begum Khaleda Zia is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the prime minister of Bangladesh from March 1991 to March 1996, and again from June 2001 to October 2006. She was the first female prime minister of Bangladesh and second female prime minister in the Muslim world, after Benazir Bhutto. She is the widow of one of the former presidents of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman. She is the chairperson and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) since 1984, which was founded by her husband in 1978.
The Bangladesh Awami League, simply known as Awami League, is one of the major political parties in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played a large role in achieving Bangladeshi independence both before and after the Bangladesh Liberation War. It is also one of the two most dominant parties in the country, along with its archrival Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Throughout its tenure as the ruling party from 2009 to August 5, 2024, it has been consistently described as authoritarian.
The history of Bangladesh (1971–present) refers to the period after the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
The 21 August 2004 Dhaka grenade attack took place at an anti-terrorism rally organised by Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue on 21 August 2004. The attack left 24 dead and more than 500 injured. The attack was carried out at 5:22 pm after Sheikh Hasina, the leader of opposition had finished addressing a crowd of 20,000 people from the back of a truck. Hasina also sustained some injuries in the attack. The involvement of BNP-Jamaat led government is still debated.
Mostafizur Rahman Fizar is a Bangladeshi politician who was the minister for Primary and Mass Education and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Dinajpur-5 constituency for 8 terms. He formerly served as the State Minister for the Ministry of Environment and Forest and later took over the Ministry of Land as State Minister, from 31 July 2009 to 21 November 2013.
General elections were held in Bangladesh on 5 January 2014, in accordance with the constitutional requirement that elections must take place within the 90-day period before the expiration of the term of the Jatiya Sangshad on 24 January 2014.
Obaidul Quader is a Bangladeshi politician who has been the General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League since October 2016. He was the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges during 2011–2024 and represented the Noakhali-5 constituency as a Jatiya Sangsad member during 2009–2024. He is also the Media Adviser for the Bangladesh Awami League and regularly conducts press conferences on their behalf. Previously, he served as the State Minister for Youth and Sports between 1996 and 2001.
Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali is the former finance minister of Bangladesh who also served as parliamentarian and cabinet minister including the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh from 2013 to 2019. He previously served as Minister of Disaster Management and Relief from 2012 to 2013.
Muhammad Hasan Mahmud is a Bangladesh Awami League politician who is a former member of Jatiya Sangsad representing the Chittagong-7 constituency. In January 2019, he was appointed as the minister of information and In January 2024, as the minister of foreign affairs.
Chowdhury is a title of honour, usually hereditary, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is an adaption from Sanskrit. During the Mughal rule, it was a title awarded to eminent people, while during British rule, the term was associated with zamindars and social leaders. The common female equivalent was Chowdhurani.
Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya is a senior Bangladesh Awami League politician who served as a Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Chandpur-2 constituency and a minister of several ministries. On 19 November 2021 he nominated for Bangladesh Awami League Presidium member. He received the Bir Bikram, the third highest award for gallantry, for his role in the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was the general secretary for the Dhaka chapter of his party until 2016. He won the Independence Award in 2023 for his contribution to the field of independence and liberation war.
Iqbalur Rahim is a Bangladesh Awami League politician and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Dinajpur-3 constituency during 2009–2024.
R. A. M. Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury is a Bangladesh Awami League politician and a former Minister of Housing and Public Works of Bangladesh and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Brahmanbaria-3 constituency.
Abdur Rouf Chowdhury (1937-2007) was a Bangladesh Awami League politician and the former Member of Parliament from Dinajpur-1.
Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu was a Bangladesh Awami League politician and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Chittagong-12 constituency. He was awarded Independence Award in 2021 posthumously.
Abdul Hakeem Chowdhury was a politician in Bangladesh who was a member of the East Pakistan Provincial Council and Member of Parliament.
Abdul Jabbar was an Awami League politician, activist and a Jatiya Sangsad member representing now-defunct Sylhet-13 constituency. He was awarded a posthumous Ekushey Padak in 2020 for his contributions to the Bengali Language Movement and Bangladesh Liberation War. He was the founding general secretary of the Awami League's Kulaura branch in 1964.
