Parliament of Bangladesh

Parliament of Bangladesh
Name	Jatiya Sangsad
Native name	জাতীয় সংসদ
Legislature	11th Jatiya Sangsad
House type	Unicameral
Established	1972
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 representation
Last election	30 December 2018
Meeting place	National Parliament House, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka

Parliament of Bangladesh is the unicameral national legislature of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, constituted under the Constitution of Bangladesh and seated at the Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka. It was created in the aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Provisional Government of Bangladesh and functions as the primary lawmaking body alongside executive institutions such as the Bangladesh Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Its membership, electoral arrangements and privileges are shaped by constitutional amendments including the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Bangladesh and the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh.

History

The legislature traces origins to the Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh formed after the 1970 Pakistani general election and the events of 1971 culminating in the Independence of Bangladesh. The 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh established a unicameral assembly, later affected by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh following the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and periods of military rule under figures such as Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991 after the 1991 Bangladeshi general election and the role of mass movements like the Mass Uprising of 1990 influenced reforms including the reinstatement of the Caretaker government of Bangladesh system and its subsequent abolition in decisions tied to the Election Commission of Bangladesh and constitutional jurisprudence by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

Composition and Membership

The assembly comprises 300 directly elected members from single-member constituencies determined by the Election Commission of Bangladesh and 50 reserved seats for women allocated by proportional representation to parties represented in the house. Major political parties represented include the Bangladesh Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jatiyo Party (Ershad), and smaller parties like the Workers Party of Bangladesh and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. Prominent parliamentary figures have included leaders from families linked to events such as the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and campaigns led by personalities like Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. Membership terms, by-elections, and disqualifications reference statutes such as the Representation of the People Order, 1972 and constitutional provisions adjudicated by the High Court Division of Bangladesh.

Powers and Functions

Under the Constitution of Bangladesh, the assembly holds legislative authority to enact, amend and repeal laws, scrutinize the Cabinet of Bangladesh, and approve budgets presented by the Ministry of Finance (Bangladesh). Financial powers relate to appropriations and taxation, interacting with institutions like the Bangladesh Bank and policies influenced by international agreements such as trade accords negotiated with partners including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The parliament exercises oversight via questions, motions and votes of confidence over cabinets led by prime ministers from parties such as the Bangladesh Awami League and coalitions like the Grand Alliance (Bangladesh). Constitutional roles extend to impeachment procedures and appointments involving offices like the President of Bangladesh and judicial confirmations impacted by rulings of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

Legislative Process

Bills may be introduced by ministers or private members, following procedures codified in standing orders and the constitution; major statutes have included those addressing land reforms post-Bangladesh Liberation War and electoral laws after incidents tied to the 2007–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis. The process involves committee review, debate, clause-by-clause consideration, and presidential assent; the president may return a bill for reconsideration except for money bills, which the president must assent to per constitutional practice influenced by precedents from the Constitutional Court decisions in Bangladesh. Emergency legislation during crises—such as the 1974 famine in Bangladesh or periods of martial law—has been a recurrent feature shaping procedural norms and judicial review by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

Parliamentary Committees

Standing and ad hoc committees include the Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee and specialised committees corresponding to ministries like the Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bangladesh), and Ministry of Defense (Bangladesh). Committees conduct inquiries, summon officials from agencies such as the Election Commission of Bangladesh and Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh), and examine treaty obligations with partners including the United Nations and regional bodies like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Notable committee investigations have intersected with events involving entities like Grameen Bank and incidents scrutinized after elections such as the 2014 Bangladeshi general election.

Sessions and Procedures

Sessions convene at the Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban under the speaker’s authority, with rules modeled on Westminster traditions adapted to local precedents including practices from the Parliament of the United Kingdom and procedural encounters with crises during the 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis. The speaker enforces standing orders, regulates questions and adjournments, and chairs joint sessions when required for constitutional functions like oaths for the President of Bangladesh. Quorum, voting procedures, and privileges are defined constitutionally and have been interpreted in rulings by the High Court Division of Bangladesh and debated during parliamentary episodes involving parties such as the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Relationship with the Executive and Judiciary

Interactions between the legislature, executive led by prime ministers such as Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, and the judiciary exemplify Bangladesh’s separation of powers, with disputes resolved through the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and constitutional amendment processes. Tensions over appointments, prosecution of political leaders, and emergency rule have prompted interventions by bodies like the Election Commission of Bangladesh and international observers from organizations including the European Union and Commonwealth of Nations. The parliament’s oversight of executive action and the judiciary’s role in reviewing legislation create a dynamic tested during episodes such as the Caretaker government of Bangladesh debates and the aftermath of the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles revolt.

Category:Politics of Bangladesh Category:Legislatures