Lesson 2/44 min
Amendments 8–14 (1988–2004)
8th to 14th
| Amendment | When | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| 8th | June 1988 | Islam made the state religion (Article 2A); ‘Bengali’ became ‘Bangla’ and ‘Dacca’ became ‘Dhaka’; six permanent High Court benches outside Dhaka |
| 9th | July 1989 | Vice-President elected directly along with the President; a person may serve as President for at most two consecutive five-year terms |
| 10th | June 1990 | 30 reserved women's seats in Parliament extended for 10 more years |
| 11th | 6 August 1991 | Validated Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed serving as Vice-President and acting President, and his return to the Chief Justice's post |
| 12th | 6 August 1991 | Parliamentary government restored; the President becomes constitutional head and the Prime Minister executive head; Vice-President's post abolished |
| 13th | 26 March 1996 | Non-party caretaker government (a Chief Adviser and up to 10 other advisers) |
| 14th | May 2004 | Reserved women's seats raised from 30 to 45; Supreme Court judges' retirement age raised from 65 to 67; displaying portraits of the President and Prime Minister made compulsory |
Did you know?: The 12th reverses the 4th: the parliamentary system went in 1975 and came back in 1991. Exams call it the opposite of the 4th Amendment.
Watch out: Both books date the 14th Amendment to 2008, but the constitution's own footnotes show it is an Act of 2004 (Act No. XIV of 2004); Banglapedia says it passed on 16 May 2004. Sources also differ on the exact day for the 8th (7 or 9 June) and the 13th (26 or 28 March), so remember the month and year.
Did you know?: In 1989 the Appellate Division struck down the 8th Amendment's change to Article 100 (the Anwar Hossain Chowdhury case) because it altered the basic structure. One book calls it a High Court ruling.
Check yourself
Which amendment made Islam the state religion?
At a glance
- 1
8th (1988): Islam the state religion; six High Court benches outside Dhaka.
- 2
12th (1991): parliamentary government restored, Vice-President's post abolished.
- 3
13th (1996): non-party caretaker government.
- 4
14th (2004): women's seats 30 to 45; judges' retirement age 67.
- 5
10th (1990): 30 women's seats extended for 10 years.