Article 19 Equality of opportunity
Equality of opportunity
Article 19 supports policies such as stipends for girls, development spending in poorer regions and measures to bring women into public life. It also helps courts interpret the enforceable equality rights.
Article 19(1) asks the State to ensure equality of opportunity for all citizens. Public scholarships, open recruitment and fair access to services are practical ways of pursuing this principle. Equal access to public examinations is one example.
Article 19(2) asks the State to remove social and economic inequality and achieve a uniform level of development across the Republic. Budget allocations to lagging districts reflect this aim. Special programmes target poorer and coastal regions.
Article 19(3), added in 2011, asks the State to ensure equal opportunity and participation of women in all spheres of national life. Reserved seats, stipends for girls and workplace measures draw on this principle. Fifty seats in Parliament are reserved for women.
In plain English
How Article 19 works
Article 19 has three parts. Clause (1) says the State shall try to ensure equality of opportunity for all citizens. Clause (2) asks the State to remove social and economic inequality, ensure fair distribution of wealth and opportunities, and achieve a uniform level of economic development across the country. Clause (3), added in 2011, requires the State to try to ensure equality of opportunity and participation of women in all areas of national life. These are principles that cannot be sued on directly. Enforceable equality rights are in Part III, especially Articles 27, 28 and 29.
In practice
Article 19 is not enforceable directly, but courts read it alongside Articles 27, 28 and 29 when deciding cases on discrimination and public employment. Clause (3) was added by the Fifteenth Amendment 2011. Policies on girls' education stipends, women's representation and regional development budgets are commonly justified by reference to Article 19. Disputes about quotas in public service are usually decided under Article 29, which is an enforceable right.
The text
What Article 19 says
19. (1) The State shall endeavour to ensure equality of opportunity to all citizens.
(2) The State shall adopt effective measures to remove social and economic inequality between man and man and to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth among citizens, and of opportunities in order to attain a uniform level of economic development throughout the Republic.
[(3)The State Shall endeavour to ensure equality of opportunity and participation of women in all spheres of national life.]
English text as published on the official Laws of Bangladesh website. The Bangla text is authoritative (Article 153). Where a court has changed the position, the status note above explains it.
History
Amendments
- Fifteenth Amendment 2011 →Added clause (3) on equality of opportunity and participation of women.
Connected provisions
Related articles
Questions
Article 19: frequently asked questions
What is Article 19 of the Constitution of Bangladesh?
Article 19 says the State shall endeavour to ensure equality of opportunity to all citizens, remove social and economic inequality, distribute wealth and opportunities fairly, and ensure equal opportunity and participation of women in all spheres of national life.
What is the difference between Article 19 and Article 27?
Article 19 is a principle of state policy that guides the State but cannot be enforced in court. Article 27, in Part III, is an enforceable fundamental right guaranteeing equality before law and equal protection of law, which can be enforced through a writ petition.
Sources
This guide explains the Constitution for general understanding. It is not legal advice. Constitutional reform proposals under discussion in 2026 are described as proposals until enacted.
Constitutional and writ practice
Need to rely on Article 19?
Our lawyers advise on writ petitions, fundamental rights and public law before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
