Kamal Hossain

Kamal Hossain is a Bangladeshi lawyer, politician, and constitutional scholar who helped draft Bangladesh’s 1972 constitution and served in several senior government roles.

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Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the Bengali nationalist movement and became Bangladesh’s founding president. Hossain served in Mujib’s government and worked on the constitutional project after independence.
Constitution of Bangladesh: The Constitution of Bangladesh is the country’s supreme law, adopted in 1972 after independence. Hossain chaired the committee that prepared the draft submitted to the Constituent Assembly.
Bangladesh Liberation War: The Bangladesh Liberation War was the 1971 conflict that led to independence from Pakistan. Hossain’s constitutional role followed the war’s creation of a sovereign Bangladeshi state.
Bangladesh constitution of 1972: The 1972 constitution established Bangladesh’s initial parliamentary system and its principles of nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism. Hossain defended this original framework against later changes to its principles and institutions.
International Commission of Jurists: The International Commission of Jurists is a nongovernmental organization that promotes human rights and the rule of law. Hossain served as a commissioner and contributed to its international rule-of-law work.
Tajuddin Ahmad: Tajuddin Ahmad was a Bengali politician who led Bangladesh’s provisional government during the 1971 Liberation War. His wartime government established the political setting in which Hossain became a senior legal adviser.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is a major political party founded by Ziaur Rahman in 1978. Hossain’s political party developed partly in opposition to the political tradition associated with the BNP.
Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh: The Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh was the body that adopted the country’s first constitution in 1972. Hossain chaired its committee responsible for preparing the constitutional draft.
Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh: The Fifth Amendment validated changes made to Bangladesh’s constitution and laws during periods of martial law from 1975 to 1979. Hossain challenged the amendment as a break from constitutional government.
International law: International law is the body of rules governing relations among states and other subjects recognized by international law. Hossain’s legal career included work on Bangladesh’s foreign relations and international legal questions.