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BANGLADESH
Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Jatiya Sangsad / Parliament
More photos  >>>
Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1972 - 1975
1986 - 2008
2009 -
LEADERSHIP
President Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury (F) 
Notes Elected on 30 Apr. 2013, re-elected on 29 Jan. 2014.
Secretary General Md. Abdur Rob Howlader (M) 
Notes 13 Jan. 2016 -
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 350 / 350
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 71 (20.29%)
Mode of designation directly elected 300
indirectly elected 50
Notes Indirectly elected: These seats, reserved for women, are distributed to political parties in proportion to their overall share of the votes received in the election. The candidates are approved by a vote of parliament.
In accordance with the constitutional amendment (Fifteenth Amendment Act) passed by parliament on 30 June 2011, the number of seats reserved for women in parliament has increased from 45 to 50, bringing the total number of seats to 350.
Term 5 years
Last renewal dates 5 January 2014
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat
Parliament House
Shere-e-Bangla Nagar
Dhaka 1207
Bangladesh
(Export mailing lists)
Phone Speaker: (88 02) 911 19 99 (Office)
911 10 66 (Residence)
Secretary General: (88 02) 911 91 40 (Office)
Fax (88 02) 912 22 54 (Speaker)
911 91 86 (Secretary General)
E-mail speaker@parliament.gov.bd (Speaker)
secretary.js@gmail.com (Secretary General)
Website
http://www.parliament.gov.bd/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Jatiya Sangsad / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 26 December 1972
Last amendment: 03/12/1995
Mode of designation directly elected 300
indirectly elected 50
Constituencies 300 single-member constituencies
Voting system Majority: Direct simple majority vote.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections held within 90 days.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 18 years
- Bangladesh citizenship
- residence in constituency of vote
- disqualifications: insanity
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - age: 25 years
- Bangladesh citizenship
- ineligibility: insanity, undischarged bankruptcy, imprisonment for more than 2 years (for criminal offence involving moral turpitude), allegiance to a foreign State
Incompatibilities - certain offices of profit in the service of the Republic or of a statutory public authority
Candidacy requirements - support by 2 qualified electors of constituency
- deposit of 5,000 takas, reimbursed if the candidate obtains at least 1/8 of the total votes cast
- candidates may run simultaneously in several constituencies

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Jatiya Sangsad / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 5 January 2014
Timing and scope of renewal The Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and its allies, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, took a total of 245 seats of the 300 seats at stake. The elections were boycotted by an 18-party opposition alliance, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Due to the boycott, a total of 153 seats were decided uncontested. The Jatiya Party led by former president Hussain Mohammad Ershad took 34 seats.

The 2014 elections were the first to be held after the Constitution was amended in 2011, abolishing the provision to set up a caretaker government to organize national elections. The BNP, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, had argued unsuccessfully for the restoration of the caretaker government provision prior to the elections. In November 2013, Prime Minister Hasina installed an "all-party" interim government comprising only the AL and its allies, under her leadership. BNP leader Zia said such a government would undermine the fairness of the process and announced that the BNP would boycott the elections.

During the election campaigning, Prime Minister Hasina promised to build a "poverty and hunger-free developed prosperous country". The Jatiya Party argued that elections would not be credible if many political parties did not participate, and withdrew in early December. However, it later re-joined the elections, pledging to uphold Islamic values. Protests continued through to polling day. At least 21 people were killed and over 100 polling centres were set on fire in the run-up to the elections and on the day itself.

Note:
The breakdown of the seats won by the AL-led Alliance:
- Bangladesh Awami League (AL) (232 seats)
- Bangladesh Workers Party (6 seats)
- Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) (5 seats)
- Bangladesh Tarikat Federation (2 seats)
Date of previous elections: 29 December 2008

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 24 January 2014

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: January 2019

Number of seats at stake: 300 (full renewal)*
*Elections were held only for 147 seats since 153 were decided uncontested.

Number of candidates: 380*
*For the 147 contested seats.

Percentage of women candidates: Not available.

Number of parties contesting the election: 12

Number of parties winning seats: 7

Alternation of power: No

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 29 January 2014

Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury (Bangladesh Awami League, AL)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 15 January 2014
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
92'007'113
47'262'168 (51.37%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Bangladesh Awami League (AL)
Jatiya Party
Independents
Bangladesh Workers Party
Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (JSD)
Jatiya Party-JP
Bangladesh Tarikat Federation
Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats General seats Women seats
Bangladesh Awami League (AL) 273 234 39
Jatiya Party 40 34 6
Independents 19 16 3
Bangladesh Workers Party 7 6 1
Jatiya Samajtantric Dal (JSD) 6 5 1
Jatiya Party-JP 2 2 0
Bangladesh Tarikat Federation 2 2 0
Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) 1 1 0
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
281

69

19.71%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Sources:
Parliament (30.01.2014, 03.04.2014, 17.04.2014, 01.01.2015, 26.01.2015, 01.01.2017)
http://www.idea.int/vt/countryview.cfm?id=20

Note:
- As at 17 April 2014, there were 69 women (19 under the general seats and 50 under the reserved seats for women) out of a total of 348 members.
- The two remaining seats went to male candidates from the Bangladesh Awami League (AL), giving it a total of 273 seats out of the full 350 members. The number of women thus remained at 69. Three women, elected under the reserved seats for women as independents, subsequently joined the AL, giving the party a total of 276 seats: 234 general seats and 42 reserved seats for women.
- Following the death of three male members (two from the AL and one from the Jatiya Party), by-elections were held on 22 June, 8 July and 3 December 2014. One of the seats went to the widow of the deceased MP, bringing the total number of women to 70 out of the full 350 members (20 under the general seats and 50 under the reserved seats for women).
- Both parties retained their seats in the by-elections. The number of seats held by each party remained unchanged after the by-elections.

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Jatiya Sangsad / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title Speaker of Parliament
Term - duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: if he becomes Minister, if he ceases to be a Member of Parliament, if he is removed by resolution of the majority of the Members of the Assembly, in case of resignation, death and dissolution of the Parliament
Appointment - elected by all the Members of the Parliament
- election held at the first sitting of the new Parliament
- after Members are sworn in
Eligibility - any Member of the Parliament can be candidate
- formal notification is required
- deadline for notification of candidature: one hour before the time fixed for the election
Voting system - Speaker generally elected unanimously - by division
- if a voting is held, simple majority is required
Procedures / results - the outgoing Speaker (in his absence the outgoing Deputy Speaker) presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the tellers appointed by the Speaker supervise the voting
- the outgoing Speaker announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged
STATUS
Status - ranks third in the hierarchy of the State
- may be called upon to replace the Head of State in the event of the latter's absence
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- is ex officio Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedures of Parliament and of the Business Advisory Committee
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
Board
Material facilities - salary: 13,500 taka per month
- allowance: 5,000 taka per month
- official residence
- official car
- personal secretariat
- domestic staff
- body guards
- official telephone
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees
- nominates 4 Committees and their Chairmen (out of 46 Standing Committees)
Chairing of public sittings - can adjourn sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
Special powers - recruits, assigns and promotes staff (recommendations by Selection Committees for higher posts)
- appoints the Clerk under recommendation of one of the Selection Committees
- organizes the services of Parliament with the Parliament Secretariat Commission
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - conducts the proceedings
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting in the event of a tie
- authenticates all bills passed by Parliament before submitting them to the President of the Republic
- takes the final decision relative to the constitutionality of laws in case of divergence in the House
- can appoint Members to corporate bodies (universities...)

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Parliament name (generic / translated) Jatiya Sangsad / Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
NATURE
Nature of the mandate · Free representation
Start of the mandate · When the MPs take the oath (Art. 148 (1) and (3) of the Constitution of 26.03.1971, as amended up to and including 1996, Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, No. 5 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution; see also Art. 69 and 148 (2) of the Constitution)
Validation of mandates · Validation by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court only in case of challenge by election petitions (Art. 102 (2) (b) (ii), and 125 (b) of the Constitution, see also Art. 69 of the Constitution and Loss of mandate for disqualification)
· Procedure (Art. 49 to 72 of the Representation of the People Order)
End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends - or on the day of early dissolution (Art. 67 (1) (c) and 72 (3) of the Constitution)
Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (Art. 67 (2) of the Constitution, Rules 177 (1) and 178 (3) and (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
· Procedure (Art. 67 (2) of the Constitution, Rules 177 and 178 (3) and (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the resignation need not be accepted
Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Failure to make the oath (Art. 67 (1) (a) and 69 of the Constitution, Rule 178 (3) and (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament; see also Start of the mandate)
(b) Loss of mandate for absence at plenary sittings (Art. 67 (1) (b) of the Constitution, Rule 178 (3) and (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
(c) Loss of mandate for disqualification (Art. 67 (1) (d) in connection with Art. 66 (2) to (5) of the Constitution, Art. 69 of the Constitution, Rule 178 (1), (2), and (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
(d) Resignation from party or "voting in Parliament against that party" (Art. 66 (4) and (5), 67 (1) (e), and 70 of the Constitution, Rule 178 (1), (2), and (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)


STATUS OF MEMBERS
Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament:
1. The Speaker
2. The Deputy Speaker
3. The Leader of the House
4. The Deputy Leader of the House
5. The Leader of the Opposition
6. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition
7. The Chief Whip
8. The Whips
9. The other MPs
Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport
· Basic salary (Art. 68 of the Constitution): BDT 6,000 per month
+ Additional allowance: BDT 8,200 per month
· Exemption from tax
· No pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat (Art. 79 of the Constitution)
(b) Official housing: accommodation in the MPs' Hostel
(c) Postal and telephone services
(d) Travel and transport: Free travel pass; or Travel Allowance: BDT 30,000 per annum
(h) Others: procurement of a car without duty
Obligation to declare personal assets No
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 78 (3) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations: offence or insult (Rule 270 (ii), (v), (vi), (vii), and (ix), and 271 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does not exist but see Rules 172, 173, and 176 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, and Schedule III to the Rules (intimation to Speaker of arrest, detention, or release of an MP), and Rules 174 and 175 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament (no arrest or service of legal process within the precincts of the House). See also Art. 66 (2) (d) of the Constitution (disqualification for conviction for certain criminal offences) and Loss of mandate for disqualification.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned can be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament (no prescribed Rule but precedent).


EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE
Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. It consists of orientation courses for MPs.
· It is provided by parliamentary groups, political parties, and the Parliament Secretariat in collaboration with CPA.
Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is not compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings or committee meetings (for leave of absence from plenary sittings and attendance register, see Rules 179 and 180 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament).
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to attend:
- Plenary sittings: loss of mandate (Art. 67 (1) (b) of the Constitution, Rule 178 (3) and (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
- Committee meetings: discharge from the Committee (Rule 193 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Plenary sittings:
- Committee meetings: the House


Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Rules 14 (3), (5), and (6), 15 to 17, 270 (ii), (v), (vi), (vii), and (ix), 271, 273, and 303 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Warning for irrelevance, direction to discontinue the speech (Rule 273 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
- Order to withdraw (Rule 15 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
- Naming and suspension (Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
- Suspension of the sitting (Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (Rule 270 (ii), (v), (vi), (vii), and (ix), and 271 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament): order to withdraw, naming and suspension
· Competent body to judge such cases (Rules 14 (3), and 303 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament):
- Warning for irrelevance, direction to discontinue the speech, order to withdraw, naming, suspension of the sitting, offence or insult: the Speaker
- Suspension, offence or insult: the House
The Speaker enforces the penalties (Rules 14 (5), and (6), and 303 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament).
· Procedure:
- Warning for irrelevance, direction to discontinue the speech (Rule 273 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
- Order to withdraw, offence or insult (Rule 15 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
- Naming and suspension, offence or insult (Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)
- Suspension of the sitting (Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament)


Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there are some relevant provisions (Art. 67 (1) (d) in connection with Art. 66 (2) (dd), (4) and (5) of the Constitution, Art. 69 of the Constitution, and Rule 178 (1), (2), and (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament).
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct:
- Loss of mandate (Art. 67 (1) (d) in connection with Art. 66 (2) (dd) of the Constitution; incompatibilities)
- Penalty of BDT 1,000 for each day on which the MP sits or votes (Art. 69 of the Constitution; incompatibilities)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Loss of mandate: the Election Commission
- Penalty:
· Procedure (Art. 66 (4) and (5), and Art. 69 of the Constitution, Rule 178 (1), (2), and (4) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament). In this case, MPs have no means of recourse.


Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 7 February 2017
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