Article 21 Duties of citizens and public servants
Duties of citizens and of public servants
Article 21(2) is often cited when officials act for themselves or a party instead of the public. It reminds the bureaucracy and police that their role is to serve citizens.
Article 21(1) says citizens must observe the Constitution and the laws, maintain discipline, perform public duties and protect public property. Damaging public buses or buildings during unrest goes against this duty, and is also an offence under ordinary law.
Article 21(2) says every person in the service of the Republic must strive at all times to serve the people. A land office clerk or a police officer is expected to act for the public, not for personal or partisan gain.
When officials abuse their power, courts and commentators often point to Article 21(2) as the constitutional standard. Disciplinary rules and criminal law provide the actual sanctions against misconduct. Citizens can also complain to the Anti-Corruption Commission or seek a writ.
In plain English
How Article 21 works
Article 21 sets out duties rather than rights. Clause (1) says every citizen has a duty to observe the Constitution and the laws, maintain discipline, perform public duties and protect public property. Clause (2) says every person in the service of the Republic has a duty to strive at all times to serve the people. That covers civil servants, police officers and members of other public services. These duties are part of Part II, so they are not directly enforceable in court. However, they set the standard for how officials should behave, and courts sometimes refer to clause (2) when criticising abuse of public office.
In practice
Article 21 is cited in judgments and public debate as the constitutional expression of public service values, especially after allegations of partisan conduct by police and civil servants. It does not create a cause of action on its own. Discipline is enforced through service rules, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the criminal law, and citizens enforce their own rights through Part III and Article 102.
The text
What Article 21 says
21. (1) It is the duty of every citizen to observe the Constitution and the laws, to maintain discipline, to perform public duties and to protect public property.
(2) Every person in the service of the Republic has a duty to strive at all times to serve the people.
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 21: frequently asked questions
What is Article 21 of the Constitution of Bangladesh?
Article 21 says it is the duty of every citizen to observe the Constitution and the laws, maintain discipline, perform public duties and protect public property, and that every person in the service of the Republic has a duty to strive at all times to serve the people.
Can a public servant be punished under Article 21?
Not directly. Article 21 is in Part II and is not judicially enforceable. Misconduct by public servants is dealt with under service and disciplinary rules, anti-corruption law and the criminal law, while Article 21(2) sets the constitutional standard they are expected to meet.
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
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