Article 64 The Attorney-General for Bangladesh
The Attorney-General
The Attorney-General defends the State in constitutional and commercial litigation, including cases that affect investors and major public projects.
The President, acting on the Prime Minister's advice, appoints as Attorney-General a person qualified to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. In practice a new government usually appoints its own Attorney-General soon after taking office.
The Attorney-General performs the duties assigned by the President, leading the State's legal team and advising the government on important legal questions. Additional, deputy and assistant attorneys-general support the office and handle the large volume of government cases in the Supreme Court.
The Attorney-General has the right of audience in all courts of Bangladesh and typically appears for the State in major constitutional and public-law cases before the Appellate Division and the High Court Division, including challenges to constitutional amendments.
The Attorney-General holds office during the President's pleasure and receives the remuneration the President determines. In practice the post changes when the government changes, as happened after August 2024 and again after the February 2026 election.
In plain English
How Article 64 works
Article 64 creates the office of Attorney-General, the government's chief law officer. The President appoints a person qualified to be a Supreme Court judge, which generally means an experienced advocate of the Supreme Court. The Attorney-General carries out duties assigned by the President, in practice on the government's advice, such as representing the State in important cases and advising on legal questions. The Attorney-General has the right to be heard in every court in Bangladesh. The office is held at the President's pleasure, so the Attorney-General can be replaced at any time, and the President sets the remuneration.
In practice
Tenure at pleasure means the office closely tracks the government of the day. In the Thirteenth Amendment review decided on 20 November 2025, the Attorney-General appointed during the interim government appeared for the State and suggested that any restoration of the caretaker system apply prospectively. After the February 2026 election, that former Attorney-General became Law Minister, and a new Attorney-General appeared in the July 2026 Fifteenth Amendment appeal. The Article applies as printed and was not affected by the 2024 to 2026 judgments.
The text
What Article 64 says
64. (1) The President shall appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court to be Attorney-General for Bangladesh.
(2) The Attorney-General shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the President.
(3) In the performance of his duties, the Attorney-General shall have the right of audience in all courts of Bangladesh.
(4) The Attorney-General shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, and shall receive such remuneration as the President may determine.
English text as published on the official Laws of Bangladesh website. Where a court has changed the position, the status note above explains it.
Connected provisions
Related articles
Questions
Article 64: frequently asked questions
Who appoints the Attorney-General of Bangladesh?
The President appoints the Attorney-General under Article 64(1), acting on the Prime Minister's advice under Article 48(3). The appointee must be a person qualified to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
Can the Attorney-General be removed at any time?
Yes. Under Article 64(4), the Attorney-General holds office during the pleasure of the President, so the appointment can be ended at any time, and the President decides the remuneration. In practice the post changes with the government.
Sources
- Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Article 64 (Laws of Bangladesh)
- Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Appellate Division: Civil Appeal Nos. 112 and 113 of 2025 (judgment of 20 November 2025; full text March 2026)
- Prothom Alo English: Next parliamentary election under caretaker govt: Law Minister (9 July 2026)
- ConstitutionNet: In Bangladesh, supreme court restores caretaker government system and referendum provision (10 July 2026)
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.
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