List of heads of government of Bangladesh
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This is a list of the persons who have exercised the powers and authority of and functioned as the head of government in Bangladesh.
Under the constitutional framework established after 1991, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh serves as the executive head of government. However effective control of the government has at various times been exercised by other offices. These have included the President, the extra-constitutional office of Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA), the constitutional position of Chief Adviser of a caretaker or interim government, as well as various de facto leaders who exercised authority without formally holding the office of head of government.
Prime Minister
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The Prime Minister of Bangladesh is the constitutional head of government under the country’s parliamentary system. The 1972 Constitution established a Westminster-style system in which the prime minister, as leader of the majority in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament), directs the executive branch. The officeholder is appointed by the president but must retain the confidence of parliament to remain in office.
From 12 January 1972 to 25 January 1975 for 3 years and 13 days, the prime minister was the head of government under the original parliamentary framework of the Constitution. Following the shift to a presidential system in 1975 and subsequent military regimes.<ref name=":1">Template:Citation</ref>
The Twelfth Amendment of 1991 restored parliamentary democracy after years of presidential and military dominance, reaffirming the prime minister as the central executive authority. Since 20 March 1991, the prime minister has been the head of government, except during periods when Chief Advisers of caretaker or interim administrations have temporarily assumed executive authority.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref>
This post as head of government was held by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during 1st parliamentary republic and by Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina during 2nd parliamentary republic.
President
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The President of Bangladesh is the ceremonial head of state since 20 March 1991 under the current parliamentary system.<ref name=":1" /> From 25 January 1975 to 20 March 1991, the country functioned under a presidential system in which the president was the executive head of government. The Provisional Government of Bangladesh (17 April 1971–12 January 1972) had also followed a presidential framework.<ref name=":02">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
During martial law, the office of Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) often overlapped with the presidency, with the same individual holding both posts. In times when the two offices were separated, the CMLA generally exercised predominant authority. In Ziaur Rahman’s tenure as CMLA, his proclamations did not clearly delineate the division of powers between the president and the CMLA and did not specify who was the head of government but the CMLA exercised de facto authority. During Hussain Muhammad Ershad's assumption of power, the proclamation of martial law on 24 March 1982 explicitly stated that the president could not exercise any authority “without the advice or approval of the CMLA,” and that the CMLA would function as “the Chief Executive and head of the Government” until the withdrawal of martial law.<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
This post was held as head of government by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Provisional and republic), Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad (under martial law), Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem (also CMLA during a part of his tenure before being de jure head of government), Ziaur Rahman (also CMLA before being elected), Abdus Sattar (Acting before being elected) and Hussain Muhammad Ershad (also CMLA before and partially after being elected). Syed Nazrul Islam was acting president in 1971 during Mujib's Incarceration in Pakistan and Shahabuddin Ahmed after resignation of Ershad.
Chief Martial Law Administrator
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The Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) was the principal executive authority during periods of extra-constitutional martial law in Bangladesh. The office frequently overlapped with the presidency sometimes held by the same person and, when separate, the CMLA typically exercised the dominant, de facto executive power.<ref name=":4" />
Under Major General Ziaur Rahman (late 1970s) martial-law proclamations concentrated authority in the martial-law apparatus without clearly distinguishing the powers of the president and the CMLA, leaving the CMLA as the effective head of government. When Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad seized power on 24 March 1982 he expressly assumed the title of CMLA and declared that the president could not act “without the advice or approval of the CMLA,” naming the CMLA “Chief Executive and head of the Government” until martial law was withdrawn.<ref name=":4" />
This post was held as in fact or de facto head of government by Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem (also president), Ziaur Rahman (during Sayem's and his presidency) and Hussain Muhammad Ershad (during Ahsanuddin's and his presidency).
Chief Advisor
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The Chief Adviser of Bangladesh is the head of government during non-party caretaker and interim governments of Bangladesh. Functioning with powers comparable to those of an elected prime minister, the chief adviser leads a council of advisers who are intended to be politically neutral and acceptable to all major parties.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref>
The office was created in 1996 by the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, following controversy over election credibility. During the 2006–08 political crisis, when President Iajuddin Ahmed assumed the role before being replaced by Fakhruddin Ahmed, who led a military-backed non-neutral caretaker administration. The caretaker system was abolished by the Fifteenth Amendment in 2011 after the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. However, the office was restored in December 2024 through a High Court ruling and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which paved the way for a new interim government.<ref name=":2" />
By constitutional design, the chief adviser is usually chosen from among the most recently retired chief justices of Bangladesh or among retired Appellate Division judges or, ultimately, other non-partisan citizens. Advisers, appointed by the president on the advice of the chief adviser, held the rank and privileges of cabinet ministers, while the chief adviser held the status of prime minister.
This post was held as head of government by Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Latifur Rahman, Iajuddin Ahmed (while serving as President) and military backed non-neutral Fakhruddin Ahmed as chief advisor of Caretaker government. Fazlul Haque served as acting chief advisor of caretaker government after Iajuddin's resignation. This post is currently held by Muhammad Yunus as chief advisor of the Interim government as the head of government of Bangladesh.
De facto Leader
Template:FurtherTemplate:Further At times in Bangladesh’s history, individuals have exercised effective control over the state without formally holding the office of head of government. These de-facto leaders typically emerge during periods of political crisis or military intervention, when command over the armed forces and security institutions enables them to dominate governance.
Army Chief Lt. Gen Moeen Uddin Ahmed staged a military coup on 11 January 2007 during 2006–2008 Bangladesh political crisis. The military-backed Caretaker Government was formed outside the constitutional provisions. Fakhruddin Ahmed was made head of government. President Iajuddin Ahmed had to run the presidency at gun point during said army rule. Moeen extended the rule of the caretaker government for two years and his tenure as army chief for one year. Moeen’s influence shaped the caretaker government’s decisions, including the declaration of the state of emergency, key appointments, and oversight of political reforms. His role effectively made him the de-facto head of government during this period.<ref name="smad">Template:Cite news</ref>
General Waker-uz-Zaman assumed practical control during the brief transition following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on 5 August 2024, until the installation of the interim government on 8 August 2024. Waker’s coordination of the security apparatus and administrative functions positioned him as the de-facto leader during this brief 3 day transition.<ref name=":5" />
Timeline of the post
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List
Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Political parties Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Other affiliations Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Note label Died in officeTemplate:Sticky header
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