The constitution has not been reprinted for nine years although a number of constitutional provisions have been changed.
The Department of Printing and Publications has, meanwhile, stopped selling copies of the constitution.
Legal experts and constitutional scholars have urged the government to resume the regular reprint of the constitution, pointing to a nine-year gap since the last printed edition.
They argue that the absence of updated print versions undermines public access, legal transparency, and constitutional certainty.
Despite several landmark amendments and Supreme Court judgements since the last official print in April 2016, no updated version of the constitution has been made available to the public or legal professionals either in print or on the web site of the law ministry.
The lack of updated print editions contributes to widespread constitutional ignorance and interpretative confusion, said eminent jurist Dr Shahdeen Malik.
鈥楳any citizens remain unaware of the significant changes made to the constitution. This ignorance can lead to anomalies in its application and weaken democratic accountability,鈥� he said.
Supreme Court lawyer Imran Abdullah Siddiq, a former member of the Constitution Reform Commission, echoed the concern, stating that even legal professionals often struggle to reference current constitutional provisions due to outdated texts.
鈥楾he last print version included the controversial 16th amendment, which restored parliament鈥檚 power to remove Supreme Court judges.
鈥楾hat provision was later declared unconstitutional on May 5, 2016 by the High Court Division and the verdict was upheld by the Appellate Division in a landmark judgment on July 3, 2017,鈥� he said.
The Appellate Division on October 20, 2024 disposed of the previous government petition seeking review of its verdict that reinstated the Supreme Judicial Council, originally inserted by the Fifth Amendment in 1979, finally resolving the legal dispute over the Supreme Court removal mechanism.
鈥楾his significant reversal, especially affecting Article 96 of the constitution, has yet to be reflected in the print edition or in the online version of the constitution,鈥� Imran noted.
He further pointed out that the 17th amendment passed in 2018 during the Awami League regime extending the reservation of 50 seats for women in Parliament for another 25 years, has also not been included in the official printed version.
鈥楾here is no legal bar preventing the interim government from authorising a reprint now to incorporate all valid amendments and judicial decisions,鈥� he added.
Moreover, the High Court, in a major ruling on December 17, 2024, declared several key provisions of the 15th amendment unconstitutional.
These provisions of the 15th amendment included the abolition of the non-party caretaker government and the restriction on amending fundamental articles of the constitution. The High Court in the ruling said that the provisions violated the constitution鈥檚 basic structure, particularly the principles of democracy, popular sovereignty, and judicial independence.
Despite these developments, no steps have been taken to publish an updated constitution incorporating these foundational changes either in print or online.
Dhaka University law professor Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman, however, offered a different view.
鈥榃hile public access is important, print editions are not legally required.
鈥楾he official digital version on the 鈥淟aws of Bangladesh鈥� website is regularly updated and reflects all constitutional amendments and judicial decisions,鈥� he said.
Other legal experts argue that digital access alone is insufficient in a society where printed legal texts remain crucial for judicial reference, legal education, and civic understanding.
Confirming the current state of inaccessibility, Nazrul Islam, deputy director (Form) of the Bangladesh Government Press, told 抖阴精品 that an embargo was in place on the sale of print copies of the constitution.
鈥楢ll print copies are sealed at the BG Press, but I cannot confirm the total number of sealed copies,鈥� he said.
Legal experts stress that withholding updated print copies of the country鈥檚 supreme law not only violates principles of constitutional clarity and accessibility but also reflects a troubling disconnect between constitutional development and public legal awareness.
Law adviser Asif Nazrul did not respond to a query sent to his WhatsApp number about whether the law ministry had any plan to reprint the country鈥檚 constitution.
