The Bengali nation had struggled for democracy, secular values and national rights for years. The military rulers of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan tried to deny the democratic and national aspirations of the Bengalis and carried out systematic genocide throughout 1971 in the name of religion. As a result, the struggle of the Bengali people which began with the language movement of 1952 ended with the armed resistance in 1971 and Bangladesh emerged as a secular democratic nation state.

The following fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution therefore evolved from its traditions and the experience of this popular struggle.

• Democracy
• Nationalism
• Secularism
• Socialism

(Socialism was the fourth fundamental principle. However this principle was generally considered to mean social justice, particularly for the disadvantaged.)

The people of Bangladesh are still continuing their struggle to retain these principles against many odds.