Bangladesh Parliament

Bangladesh Parliament
parliament · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Jatiya Sangsad
Native name	জাতীয় সংসদ
Legislature	11th Parliament (as of 2019)
House type	Unicameral
Established	1972
Preceded by	Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury
Leader2 type	Prime Minister
Leader2	Sheikh Hasina
Members	350
Voting system	First-past-the-post; reserved seats by proportional allocation
Last election	30 December 2018
Meeting place	Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka

Bangladesh Parliament is the unicameral national legislature of the Republic of Bangladesh, constituted under the Constitution of 1972 and seated at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka. It comprises directly elected members and reserved women's seats, and it enacts laws, ratifies treaties, approves budgets and exercises oversight of the executive led by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the Cabinet of Bangladesh. The body evolved from the Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh that declared independence in 1971 and has been central to major political events such as the Bangladesh Liberation War, periods of martial law in Bangladesh, and transitions between caretaker administrations.

History

The legislature's origins trace to the Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh which framed the Constitution of Bangladesh in 1972 after the Bangladesh Liberation War and the defeat of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Early parliaments saw leaders from the Awami League and figures like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dominate debates on socialism, secularism and nationalism. Following the 1975 coups and the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the legislature was suspended during periods of military rule under Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Ershad, with assemblies reconvened under different constitutions and amendments including the Sixth Amendment and Seventh Amendment controversies. The return to parliamentary democracy in the 1990s involved the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh mechanism until its abolition by the Thirteenth Amendment and subsequent judicial and political disputes involving the Bangladesh Supreme Court. Recent decades have featured contested elections involving the Election Commission of Bangladesh, opposition alliances such as the Jatiya Party (Ershad), street movements led by the Bangladeshi student movement and international observation by entities like the Commonwealth Observer Group.

Structure and Composition

The assembly consists of 350 seats: 300 constituency seats elected by first-past-the-post and 50 seats reserved for women allocated proportionally to parties represented in the house. Leadership includes the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Deputy Speakers, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh as head of the leading party or coalition, and the Leader of the Opposition. Party organizations such as the Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jatiya Party (Ershad), and smaller groups shape parliamentary blocs and committee assignments. Administrative support is provided by the Parliament Secretariat and technical services like the Parliamentary Library of Bangladesh and research wings that assist in drafting bills and preparing reports for ministries such as the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

Functions and Powers

Constitutional responsibilities include legislation, budget approval, taxation, declaration of emergency powers, ratification of international treaties and bringing votes of confidence and no-confidence affecting the Cabinet of Bangladesh. The parliament oversees implementation via question hours, interpellation, and scrutiny of ministers including the Finance Minister of Bangladesh and the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. It also plays a role in constitutional amendment procedures, impeachment processes for certain office-holders, and authorising deployment of the Bangladesh Armed Forces abroad under parliamentary approval. Judicial interactions have involved rulings by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh interpreting parliamentary privilege, separation of powers, and fundamental rights under the constitution.

Legislative Process

Legislation can originate from the executive as government bills or from individual members as private members' bills; bills pass through stages including first reading, committee review, report stage and final passage, after which the President of Bangladesh gives assent. Financial bills and the annual budget are typically introduced by the Ministry of Finance (Bangladesh) and require special procedures in the assembly. Emergency proclamations and ordinances have been areas of contention, with past use by presidents and disputes adjudicated by the High Court Division of Bangladesh. Deliberation tactics include plenary debates, walkouts by opposition parties such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and cross-party negotiations mediated by parliamentary offices and figures like the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad.

Committees and Parliamentary Bodies

A system of standing committees—including the Public Accounts Committee, the Public Undertakings Committee, and subject-specific committees on health, education and defence—provides detailed scrutiny of executive action, reports on bills and conducts inquiries involving ministries such as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Defence (Bangladesh). Select committees and special inquiry panels are constituted for constitutional amendments, impeachment considerations and election law reforms involving the Election Commission of Bangladesh. Parliamentary caucuses and cross-party groups address issues like gender, minority rights and regional development with contributions from civil society actors such as the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust and international partners including the United Nations Development Programme.

Electoral System and Membership

Members for 300 constituencies are elected by first-past-the-post in general elections administered by the Election Commission of Bangladesh; the 50 reserved women's seats are apportioned to parties in proportion to their elected strength and filled by party nomination. Qualifications and disqualifications for membership are set out in the Constitution of Bangladesh and electoral laws, with tribunals and the Election Commission of Bangladesh adjudicating disputes and by-elections filling casual vacancies. High-profile electoral events include the 1991 restoration of parliamentary democracy, the 2006–08 caretaker period, and the 2018 general election contested by major parties including the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Buildings and Facilities

The primary chamber meets in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, an architectural landmark designed by Louis Kahn in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, featuring plenary halls, committee rooms, members' offices and the Parliamentary Library. Adjacent facilities include the Members' Lounge, press galleries used by organizations such as The Daily Star and bdnews24.com, and security arrangements coordinated with the Bangladesh Police and parliamentary security services. The complex hosts diplomatic delegations, parliamentary diplomacy events with bodies like the Inter-Parliamentary Union and international delegations from parliaments including the United Kingdom Parliament and the United States Congress.

Category:Politics of Bangladesh Category:Parliamentary chambers