The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh () is the central government of Bangladesh. It administers the country through the executive, legislative and judicial branches, together with constitutional bodies, statutory authorities, the civil service and local-government institutions. The constitutional framework of the government is established by the Constitution of Bangladesh, adopted on 4 November 1972 and brought into force on 16 December 1972. The Constitution declares Bangladesh a unitary, independent and sovereign republic and establishes the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.
As of September 2026, Bangladesh is governed under a parliamentary system in which executive authority is exercised by the Prime Minister and Cabinet, while the President serves as head of state. The current government was formed following the 2026 general election and is headed by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has served as President since August 2026.
Constitutional framework
Constitutional Republic The Constitution is the supreme law of Bangladesh. Article 1 defines the country as a "unitary, independent, sovereign Republic" known as the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Article 7 provides that all powers of the Republic belong to the people and that their exercise must take place under the authority of the Constitution. Any law inconsistent with the Constitution is void to the extent of the inconsistency.
The Constitution establishes the principal organs of the state, including the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet, Parliament, the Supreme Court, local-government institutions and several constitutional commissions. It also establishes fundamental rights and sets out principles governing the organisation and functioning of the state.
The Constitution has been amended numerous times since 1972. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority of the total membership of Parliament under Article 142, subject to the constitutional limitations recognised by the Supreme Court.
The constitutional position of the non-party caretaker government was substantially altered during this period. The system, originally introduced by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1996, was abolished by the Fifteenth Amendment in 2011. In July 2026, the Appellate Division upheld a High Court judgment declaring the repeal of the caretaker-government provisions unconstitutional and void with prospective effect, thereby restoring the constitutional caretaker-government mechanism for future elections.
Separation of powers Bangladesh's Constitution distributes state authority among the executive, legislature and judiciary, although the parliamentary system creates a close institutional relationship between the executive and legislature. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are politically accountable to Parliament, while the judiciary exercises judicial power independently under the Constitution and laws of the Republic. Article 22 specifically directs the state to ensure the separation of the judiciary from the executive organs of the state.
The executive implements laws and administers the state; Parliament exercises legislative and financial powers and scrutinises the executive; and the courts interpret and apply the law and exercise judicial review in accordance with the Constitution.
Fundamental rights and principles Part III of the Constitution guarantees fundamental rights, including equality before the law, protection of law, personal liberty, safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of thought and conscience, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of religion and protection of property.
The Constitution's fundamental principles of state policy include nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism. It also identifies human dignity, social justice, equality, fundamental human rights and the rule of law as important objectives of the Republic.
Fundamental principles of state policy are constitutionally significant but are not judicially enforceable in the same manner as fundamental rights. They provide a framework for legislation and governance and guide the interpretation and implementation of state policy.
Executive The executive branch is responsible for administering the state and implementing laws enacted by Parliament. It consists principally of the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet, ministries and divisions, the civil service and numerous departments, directorates and statutory agencies.
Under the Constitution, the President is the head of state, while executive power is exercised by or on the authority of the Prime Minister.
President
The President is the constitutional head of state. The President is elected by the members of the Jatiya Sangsad for a five-year term. The President takes precedence over all other persons in the state and exercises the powers and performs the duties assigned by the Constitution and laws.
Most presidential functions are exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister, although the Constitution provides specific exceptions, including the appointment of the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice. The President also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
The President possesses several constitutional powers, including the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment. The President also performs functions concerning Parliament, appointments and other constitutional matters.
As of September 2026, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is the President of Bangladesh. He was elected by Parliament on 20 August 2026 and sworn into office on 21 August.
Prime Minister
The Prime Minister is the head of government and the principal holder of executive authority. Under Article 56 of the Constitution, the President appoints as Prime Minister the member of Parliament who appears to command the support of the majority of members of Parliament.
The Prime Minister heads the Cabinet and directs the government's general policies and administration. The Cabinet is collectively responsible to Parliament. The Prime Minister also exercises authority over the administration of government ministries and departments and plays the principal role in determining national policy.
Tarique Rahman has been Prime Minister since 17 February 2026, following the 13th parliamentary election. His government is led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Chief Adviser
The Chief Adviser is the head of the non-party caretaker government established by the Constitution for the period following the dissolution of Parliament before a general election. The office is therefore not part of the ordinary executive structure of an elected government.
The non-party caretaker-government provisions were originally introduced by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1996 and were omitted by the Fifteenth Amendment in 2011. In November 2025, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court set aside the judgment that had invalidated the caretaker-government arrangement and restored the relevant constitutional provisions. The full judgment stated that the provisions were revived prospectively.
Under the restored framework, the caretaker government becomes operative following the dissolution of a Parliament in the circumstances specified by the Constitution. The Chief Adviser and other Advisers are appointed according to the restored constitutional procedure, with the Chief Adviser heading the caretaker government during the election period.
The Supreme Court's judgment clarified that the restored caretaker-government mechanism did not apply to the 2026 parliamentary election and would operate prospectively at a future constitutional transition.
Cabinet
The Cabinet of Bangladesh consists of the Prime Minister and other ministers designated by the Prime Minister. Under Article 55 of the Constitution, the Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister and is collectively responsible to Parliament.
Ministers are formally appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. Article 56 provides that at least nine-tenths of ministers must be appointed from among members of Parliament, while not more than one-tenth may be appointed from persons qualified for election to Parliament.
The Cabinet is the principal political decision-making body of the executive. It considers major legislation, national policies, international agreements, budgetary measures and other matters of government.
The Prime Minister may assign ministers responsibility for particular ministries or divisions. Ministers may be assisted by Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers where such positions are created.
Ministries and divisions The central administration of Bangladesh is organised into ministries and divisions, which formulate policies and supervise their implementation through departments, directorates, agencies and other subordinate organisations.
As of 6 September 2026, the National Information Portal lists 57 ministries and divisions. It also lists 77 departments and directorates within the government framework.
The Cabinet Division coordinates the work of ministries and assists the Prime Minister in the exercise of executive functions.
Each ministry is led politically by a Minister and administered by a Secretary, a senior civil servant who oversees policy implementation and manages the overall operation of the ministry and its subordinate divisions.