Theoretically, the President has the power to appoint the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice. However, all executive actions of the government shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President, though the presidency is vested with practically no executive power. The executive power of the Republic, according to the twelfth amendment, shall be exercised by the Prime Minister, and his/her cabinet shall be collectively responsible to the Jatiya Sangsad. Under the Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Act, 1991, the Prime Minister became the executive head, and the President the constitutional head.

The multi-party presidential form of government had continued down to 1991 when the Constitution was again amended in favour of a parliamentary system of government. The subsequent Martial Law Proclamation, Chief Martial Law Administrator's Orders, Martial Law Regulations and Ordinances were confirmed and ratified by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1986. Under this amendment all Proclamations, Martial Law Regulations, Martial Law Orders and other laws and tribunals made during the period from 15 August 1975 to 9 April 1979 were ratified and confirmed. All the constitutional anomalies were regularised and confirmed under the Constitution (Fifth Amendment) Act, 1979. Every regime ruled partly by decrees, partly by Constitution. The governments, civil or military, during the period had neither abrogated the Constitution nor observed it fully. From 15 August 1975 to 9 April 1979, there were several rounds of martial laws interspersed with civil governments. Under the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Bill 1975, the parliamentary system was abandoned and a one-party presidential system introduced. The Constitution was fundamentally amended in January 1975.

The Order changed the form of government to a parliamentary system with a cabinet of ministers headed by the Prime Minister. This proclamation order was replaced by the Provisional Constitution of Bangladesh Order, 1972 which declared the members elected to the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan in the elections held in December 1970 and March 1971 as the Constituent Assembly of the Republic.

Bangladesh began its constitutional journey with an ad hoc constitution under the Proclamation of Independence Order (10 April 1971) investing the president (of the mujibnagar government) with all executive and legislative authority and the power to appoint a prime minister. The form of government has also undergone changes quite a number of times. Since 1972, the Constitution has undergone certain amendments and changes, some by way of constitutional amendments and some under Martial Law Proclamation Orders. The Constitution has declared Bangladesh a Republic committed to the principles of democracy and human rights rule of law freedom of movement, assembly and association freedom of religion and international peace and harmony.

Bangladesh Constitution Bangla Version