Part Two of the Constitution of Bangladesh, titled “Fundamental Principles of State Policy,” outlines guiding directives for governance. These articles serve as instructions to the state on what it ought to uphold. For example, Article 10 of this constitution instructs the state to establish a socialist society, while Article 13 ensures private ownership. Although these directives are not legally enforceable by law, which means if the government is not able to comply with them, it cannot be sued, they still have a huge impact in expressing and accommodating the diverse ideological visions within Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Many people believe that constitutional directives are of little or no use since they do not legally enforce the government. However, 31 nations around the world have enacted such directives.[1] These directives have many impacts, but among them, accommodating different ideologies, especially within a society where diverse beliefs coexist, is particularly important.

Like many other countries, the constitutional birth of Bangladesh was also marked by controversies. After independence, various interest groups voiced demands for their rights to be included or strongly emphasized in the constitution. These included pro-nationalists, emerging socialist movements, ethno-minority communities, religious parties, and others. Constitutional debates and disagreements have never been fully settled in the context of Bangladesh, and it is unlikely that such disputes will ever be completely resolved. However, the directives outlined in the constitution have played an important role in allowing each of these communities to feel a sense of inclusion.

If we recall, in 1972, Manabendra Narayan Larma, the then representative of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, raised concerns about the lack of recognition for ethnic identity in the drafted constitutional framework. He demanded that the constitution acknowledge ethnic distinctiveness by including enforceable group rights and a separate legislative council for the CHT people.[2] The discussion of whether or not ethnic rights have been established in the constitution is........

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