View source for Jatiya Sangsad

{{Short description|Unicameral legislature of Bangladesh}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color = green
| name = Jatiya Sangsad
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|bn|জাতীয় সংসদ}}}}
| legislature = Most recent: [[12th Jatiya Sangsad|12th Sangsad]]{{efn|Currently dissolved<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/president-dissolves-parliament-3670721 |title=President dissolves parliament |date=2024-08-06 |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref>}}
| coa_pic = Emblem of the Jatiya Sangsad.svg
| coa_res = 150px
| coa_caption = Emblem of the Sangsad
| logo_pic = Flag of the Jatiya Sangsad.svg
| logo_res = 150px
| logo_alt = Flag of the Jatiya Sangsad
| logo_caption = Flag of the Jatiya Sangsad
| session_room = Sangshad Assembly Hall.jpg
| structure1 = 
| structure1_res = 300px
| structure2 = 
| structure2_res = 300px
| house_type = [[Unicameralism|Unicameral]]
| houses = 
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=y|1973|03|07}}
| preceded_by = [[Constituent Assembly of&nbsp;Bangladesh]]
| new_session = 
| leader1_type = [[Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad|Speaker]]
| leader1 = Parliament dissolved
| party1 = 
| election1 = [[Non-cooperation movement (2024)#Interim government formation|6 August 2024]]
| leader2_type = [[List of speakers and deputy speakers of the Jatiya Sangsad#Deputy speakers|Deputy Speaker]]
| leader2 = Parliament dissolved
| party2 = 
| election2 = [[Non-cooperation movement (2024)#Interim government formation|6 August 2024]]
| leader3_type = [[Leader of the House (Bangladesh)|Leader of the House]]<br />{{small|([[Prime Minister of Bangladesh|Prime Minister]])}}
| leader3 = Parliament dissolved
| party3 = 
| election3 = 5 August 2024
| leader4_type = '''Deputy Leader<br />of the House'''
| leader4 = 
| election4 = 
| party4 = 
| leader5_type = {{nobr|[[Chief Whip (Bangladesh)|Chief Whip]]}}
| leader5 = Parliament dissolved
| party5 = 
| election5 = 6 August 2024
| leader6_type = [[Leader of the Opposition (Bangladesh)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| leader6 = Parliament dissolved
| party6 = 
| election6 = 6 August 2024
| leader7_type = [[Deputy Leader of the Opposition]]
| leader7 = Parliament dissolved
| party7 = 
| election7 = 6 August 2024
| leader8_type = {{nobr|[[Secretary of the Jatiya Sangsad|Secretary]]}}
| leader8 = Dr. Md. Anwar Ullah
| party8 = 
| election8 = 27 September 2024
| members = '''Parliament dissolved'''<br />[[Casual vacancy|''Vacant'']] (350)
| political_groups1 = <!-- Note: Whenever a Parliament is dissolved, hide commons political groups and replace them with 350 vacant seats instead of deleting them. -->
| term_length = Up to five years
| voting_system1 = 
*300 seats directly elected via [[First-past-the-post]]
*50 seats reserved for women elected via [[Proportional representation]]
| first_election1 = [[1973 Bangladeshi general election|7 March 1973]]
| last_election1 = [[2024 Bangladeshi general election|7 January 2024]]
| next_election1 = [[Next Bangladeshi general election|12 February 2026]]
| meeting_place = [[Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban]],<br />[[Sher-e-Bangla Nagar]],<br />[[Dhaka]], Bangladesh
| constitution = [[Constitution of Bangladesh]]
| website = {{URL|www.parliament.gov.bd}}
}}
{{Politics of Bangladesh}}

The '''Jatiya Sangsad''',{{efn|{{langx|bn|জাতীয় সংসদ|Jatiẏô Sôṅsôd|engvar=gb}}, {{IPA|bn|ˈdʒati̯oˑ ˈʃɔŋʃɔd|pron}}; {{lit|National Parliament}}}} [[Constitution of Bangladesh |constitutionally]] the '''House of the Nation''' and commonly the '''Sangsad''', is the unicameral legislative body of Bangladesh. The current parliament of Bangladesh contains 350 seats,<ref name="gov.bd">{{cite web |title=Name and Composition of Parliament |url=http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/about-parliament/name-and-composition-of-parliament |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011072257/http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/about-parliament/name-and-composition-of-parliament |archive-date=11 October 2017 |access-date=20 February 2017 |website=[[Bangladesh Parliament]]}}</ref> including 50 seats reserved exclusively for women. Elected occupants are called [[Member of Parliament (Bangladesh)|members of Parliament]], or MPs. Elections to the body are held every five years, unless a parliament is dissolved earlier by the [[President of Bangladesh]]. The [[2024 Bangladeshi general election|most recent parliamentary election]] was held on 7 January 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=New MPs take oath |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/new-mps-take-oath-6107 |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]] |date=9 January 2014 |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref>

The leader of the party, or coalition of parties, holding a majority of seats in Parliament becomes the [[Prime Minister of Bangladesh]] and thus serves as the head of the government. The President of Bangladesh, the ceremonial head of state, is chosen by Parliament. Since the [[2008 Bangladeshi general election|2008 parliamentary election]],  [[majority]] party has been the [[Awami League]], led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On 6 August 2024, President [[Mohammed Shahabuddin]] dissolved parliament after the ousting  of fallen dictator Sheikh Hasina and ordered to form an [[Interim government system of Bangladesh|interim government]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bangladesh parliament dissolved, president's office says |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2024/08/06/bangladesh-parliament-dissolved-president-s-office-says- |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=[[Al Arabiya]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/8/6/bangladesh-protests-live-news-students-leaders-to-meet-army-chief |title=Bangladesh protests updates: Parliament dissolved after Hasina fled to India amidst protest |last=Adler |first=Nils |date=2024-08-06 |language=en |work=[[Al Jazeera English]] |access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref>

There are ongoing discussions over the establishment of a bicameral legislature for Bangladesh as a part of the broader reforms carried out by the [[Yunus ministry|incumbent interim government]]. As of 2 August 2025, consensus among political parties have been reached to establish bicameralism, which may reflect in the upcoming Sangsad.<ref name="dw" />

==Etymology==
The Constitution of Bangladesh designates the official name of the legislature '''Jatiya Sangsad''' ({{lang|bn|জাতীয় সংসদ}}) in Bengali and '''House of the Nation''' in English. The term ''Sangsad'' ({{translit|bn|Sôṅsôd|engvar=gb}} {{IPA|bn|ˈʃɔŋʃɔd|}}), a Bengali word for 'Parliament', derives from the [[Sanskrit]] word {{IAST|saṃsada}} ({{literal translation|gathering|assembly}}). The Bengali word ''Jatiya'' ({{translit|bn|Jatiẏô|engvar=gb}} {{IPA|bn|ˈdʒati̯oˑ|}}) means 'National', hence, the name "Jatiya Sangsad" translates as 'National Parliament'. The legislature is commonly known as Parliament and often referred to simply as the '''''Sangsad''''' or '''JS'''.
[[File:Parliament_inside_cropped_-_Abdul_Hamid_observes_Mujib_Year_Parliament_session_2020-11-24_(PID-0032140)_(cropped).jpg|left|thumb|Inside parliament house during a session.]]
The term "[[Member of Parliament (Bangladesh)|member of Parliament]]" ({{langx|bn|সংসদ সদস্য|Sôṅsôd Sôdôssô|engvar=gb}}) refers to both the 300 elected members and the 50 nominated women members of the Sangsad. The title is almost always shortened to the initialism "MP" and often referred to simply as the ''Sangsad''. Members of Parliament are entitled to use the prefix "The Honourable" ({{langx|bn|মাননীয়|links=no|engvar=gb|translit=Manôniẏô}}).

==History==
[[File:2.জাতীয় সংসদ ভবন.jpg|thumb|Legislative complex in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar]]
{{Further|Legislatures of British India|Bengal Legislative Council|Eastern Bengal and Assam Legislative Council|Bengal Legislative Assembly|East Pakistan Provincial Assembly|Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh}}
The Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh was established on 10 April 1972 after the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] to prepare a democratic [[Constitution of Bangladesh|constitution]] and served as its first parliament as an independent nation. The assembly approved the constitution on 4 November 1972, and it took effect on 16 December<ref>{{cite book |last=Islam |first=Sirajul |year=2012 |chapter=Constitution |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Constitution |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> and the Constituent Assembly became the Provisional Parliament of Bangladesh until the first elections under the new constitution took place in 1973.

Until 10 July 1981, the Constituent Assembly, along with the first and second parliaments, held their sittings in the building that now houses the [[Prime Minister's Office (Bangladesh)|Prime Minister's Office]], commonly referred to as the old Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament House). The opening ceremony of the present Parliament House was performed on 15 February 1982. The last session of the second parliament was held in the new house on 15 February 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.gov.bd/History-and-Building |title=History and Building |website=Bangladesh Parliament |access-date=20 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204140240/https://www.parliament.gov.bd/History-and-Building |archive-date=2024-12-04}}</ref>

==Constituencies==
{{main|List of Parliamentary constituencies in Bangladesh}}

[[File:Geänderte Wahlkreise 2013 Bangladesch.svg|thumb|Parliamentary constituencies in Bangladesh]]
The maximum strength of the Parliament envisaged by the [[Constitution of Bangladesh]] is 350, which is made up of the general election of 300 members to represent 300 parliamentary constituencies and 50 seats reserved for women, which are apportioned to elected party positions in the parliament. The electoral districts are referred to as the {{translit|bn|Nirbacôni elaka|engvar=gb}} ({{lang|bn|নির্বাচনী এলাকা}}) in Bengali, which can be literally translated as 'electoral area' though the official English translation for the term is 'constituency'. This term is used while referring to an electoral district in general. The constituencies are arranged to coincide with the administrative [[districts of Bangladesh]], distributed among the proportion to their population. Numbers may vary from two to twenty members per district. The seats are indicated with the district name suffixed by a number (e.g., [[Panchagarh-1]] or [[Jessore-6]]). Each constituency is represented by a single member of Parliament, and is elected by the [[first-past-the-post]] system.

==Membership==
Article 66 of the [[Constitution of Bangladesh|Constitution]] makes membership open to any citizen of Bangladesh and ''only'' to citizens above the age of 25; dual citizenship is possible for civilians in Bangladesh, but not for MPs who must not hold any other citizenship.<ref name="cons">{{cite web |title=Bangladesh Constitution |url=http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/research/bangladesh-constitution.pdf |publisher=Parliament of Bangladesh}}</ref>

Members are elected by direct polling in their respective constituencies. Whoever wins the most votes, regardless of turnout or proportion, wins the election. Members are elected for a term of five years,<ref name="cons" /> with the entire Parliament dissolving five years after the swearing-in. Members can be re-elected indefinitely, and so have no term limits. They may be independent or affiliated with a [[List of political parties in Bangladesh|political party]].

Members must not have served time in prison for more than two years to be eligible, unless they served this period five years prior to the general election date.<ref name="cons" />

Article 67<ref name="cons" /> states that members [[absent without leave]] for 90 consecutive sitting days will lose their membership. Any ambiguity regarding membership will be resolved by the [[Bangladesh Election Commission]]. Attending sessions without being a member (even if memberships are cancelled in retrospect) results in a [[Bangladeshi taka|BDT]]1,000 (US${{To USD|1000|BGD|year=|r=2}}) fine per day, per Article 69.<ref name="cons" />

===Floor crossing===
Article 70 of the [[Constitution of Bangladesh|Constitution]] makes [[floor crossing]] illegal.<ref name="cons" /><ref name="art70">{{cite news |last=Molla |first=M.A.S |title=Amending Article 70 |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-182840 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=24 April 2011}}</ref> Members engaging in floor crossing lose their membership immediately.<ref name="cons" />

Floor crossing is described in the Constitution as:<ref name="cons" />
*Resignation from the political party that nominated the member,
*Voting against the nominating party, or
*Abstaining from voting, either by abstention or absence and against the directive of the party [[Whip (politics)|Whip]].

The only case of floor crossing in Bangladeshi history due the stringent article was when members [[Abdul Mannan (politician, born 1942)|M. A. Mannan]] and [[Mahi B. Chowdhury]] defected from the [[Bangladesh National Party]] to form a new party, [[Bikolpo Dhara]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Mannan, Mahi quit BNP, Gen Nur Uddin AL |url=http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=3186 |newspaper=The Financial Express |agency=UNB |date=11 March 2004 |via=News From Bangladesh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232606/http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=3186 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Fresh [[by-elections]] were held soon after the seats were vacated. Mahi B. Chowdhury retained his seat under the new party, whereas Mannan lost.

====Debate about the provision====
As most candidates are elected by the funding, support and brand name of the party, and resignation from the party is considered to void the choice of the people.<ref name=art70/> The prime objective of banning floor crossing is to prevent members from joining other parties for personal gains or to induce disloyalty.<ref name=art70/> This is crucial in marginal majorities, where a few members voting against the majority essentially changes the government party in power causing political instability.<ref name=art70/>

The negative effects are broad however such as stopping members from speaking out against bad policies pitched by their party or voting against their party on legislation.<ref name=art70/> This is considered harmful to parliamentary democracy, as the ban forces members to agree with their party leaders regardless of their own opinions or the opinions of their constituents.<ref name=art70/>

===Double membership===
Article 71 of the Constitution allows eligible people to be candidates in more than one constituency.<ref name="cons" /> However, if elected from multiple seats, the member must vacate all but one seat.<ref name=bypoll>{{cite news |title=Bangladesh by-election win widens Hasina majority |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-38855120090402 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306214341/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-38855120090402 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2016 |newspaper=Reuters |date=2 April 2009}}</ref>

It is usually the custom for prominent politicians, especially party leaders to stand in multiple constituencies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bangladeshi parliamentary by-elections in Bangladesh end peacefully |url=http://english.sina.com/world/2009/0402/230897.html |newspaper=Sina |date=2 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324110002/http://english.sina.com/world/2009/0402/230897.html |archive-date=2012-03-24}}</ref> During [[2008 Bangladeshi general election|the 2008 election]] Awami League leader [[Sheikh Hasina]], prominent AL figure (and later [[prime minister of Bangladesh]]) [[Zillur Rahman]], BNP leader [[Khaleda Zia]] and Jatiya Party leader [[H M Ershad]] all were candidates in the maximum possible number of constituencies.<ref name=bypoll/>

==Powers and rights==
{{See also|Article 70 of the Constitution of Bangladesh}}
The [[president of Bangladesh]] appoints a [[Government of Bangladesh|cabinet]] with the [[Prime Minister of Bangladesh|prime minister]] and other ministers from among the members.<ref name="cons" /> The prime minister must be a parliamentarian, and so must at least 90% of the ministers.<ref name="technocrat">{{cite news |title=Technocrat-Ministers 1972 clause set to be invoked |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/technocrat-ministers-1972-clause-set-to-be-invoked |work=bdnews24.com |date=5 April 2011}}</ref><ref name="gov" /> The president must appoint a prime minister who, in his reasoned opinion, commands the confidence of the majority of the House.<ref name="gov">{{cite web |title=Bangladesh Background Note |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/bangladesh/198053.htm |date=6 March 2012 |website=U. S. Department of State |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref> The cabinet remains answerable to the Parliament and the president.<ref name="cons" />

The president of Bangladesh is elected by the Parliament through open [[ballot]] voting.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chowdhury |first=Jashim Ali |title=Reminiscence of a lost battle: Arguing for the revival of second schedule |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/law/2010/11/01/index.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=6 November 2010 }}</ref> As a result, the opposition party seldom nominates a candidate and the governing party nominee is uncontested. Current President Mohammed Shahabuddin and previous presidents Abdul Hamid, Zillur Rahman,<ref>{{cite news |title=Zillur all set to be president |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-75063 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=9 February 2009}}</ref> [[Iajuddin Ahmed]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Helal Uddin Ahmed |title=Ahmed, Iajuddin |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Ahmed,_Iajuddin |website=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh}}</ref> [[A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury]]<ref>{{cite web |author=AM Chowdhury |title=Chowdhury, AQM Badruddoza |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Chowdhury,_AQM_Badruddoza |website=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh}}</ref> and [[Shahabuddin Ahmed]]<ref>{{cite web |author1=Kazi Ebadul Hoque |author2=Helal Uddin Ahmed |title=Ahmed, Justice Shahabuddin |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Ahmed,_Justice_Shahabuddin |website=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh}}</ref> were all elected unopposed. The Parliament can also impeach the president by a two-thirds majority.<ref name="cons" />

The Parliament can form any parliamentary standing committees as it sees fit such as for the purposes of examining bills, reviewing government policy and any other matter of public importance.<ref name="cons" /> The ''de facto'' power of the committees has always been nominal however; the ''de jure'' power too is ambiguous,<ref>{{cite news |last=Islam |first=M Rafiqul |title=Sovereignty debate |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/law/2011/01/04/index.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=22 January 2011}}</ref> especially after the [[Supreme Court of Bangladesh|Supreme Court]] ruled that it was not answerable to summons from parliamentary committees and senior civil servants rarely being brought before committees to answer for public administrative decisions.<ref>{{cite news |title=SC accountable to none |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/sc-accountable-to-none |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=19 January 2011}}</ref>

In practice, the Parliament has been regarded as a [[rubber stamp (politics)|rubber stamp]] body as MPs cannot [[cross the floor]], have [[free vote]]s (vote against their party whip) or pass [[motion of no confidence|motions of no confidence]] due to [[Article 70 of the Constitution of Bangladesh]]. This article imposes ultra-strict [[party discipline]] on the chamber; any MP voting against their party automatically loses their seat. Political scientists, judges in the Supreme Court, public intellectuals, newspapers and journalists, civil rights activists and many members of parliament have demanded reform of the article.

Critics argue Article 70 tramples [[freedom of speech]] and freedom of conscience and is a violation of the constitution's fundamental rights. Additionally, it significantly limits the checks and balances on the prime minister, as there are few means by which s/he can be legally dismissed under the constitution or even held to basic scrutiny with repercussions. In Bangladesh, the parliament usually reflects the will of the government, not vice versa as in a well-functioning parliamentary democracy. The checks and balances then formed on the prime minister and their cabinet are by civil servants in the [[Bangladesh Administrative Service]] and the courts, which are usually too docile to challenge the executive.

Article 78 of the Constitution provides immunity for the speeches, actions and votes of the Members within parliamentary sessions, and so members are not answerable for any such actions to the courts.<ref name="cons" /> The parliament itself is vested with the power to provide [[indemnity]] to anybody in service of the nation under Article 46.<ref name="cons" /> This allowed the 2nd parliament in 1979 to ratify the [[Indemnity Act, Bangladesh|Indemnity Ordinance]].

==Past parliamentary election results==
{{See also|Elections in Bangladesh|General elections in Bangladesh}}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Legislature
!colspan="2"|Majority
![[Leader of the House (Bangladesh)|Leader of House]]
!colspan="2"|Opposition
![[Leader of the Opposition (Bangladesh)|Leader of the Opposition]]
!List of members
|-
|'''[[1973 Bangladeshi general election|1st Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
|[[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]]
|style="background:{{party color|}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
| ''None''
| ''None''
|[[List of members of the 1st Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[1979 Bangladeshi general election|2nd Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Nationalist Party}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
|[[Shah Azizur Rahman]]
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
| [[Asaduzzaman Khan (politician, born 1916)|Asaduzzaman Khan]]
|[[List of members of the 2nd Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[1986 Bangladeshi general election|3rd Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Jatiya Party}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Jatiya Party (Ershad)|Jatiya Party]]
|[[Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury]]
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
|[[Sheikh Hasina]]
|[[List of members of the 3rd Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[1988 Bangladeshi general election|4th Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Jatiya Party}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Jatiya Party (Ershad)|Jatiya Party]]
|[[Kazi Zafar Ahmed]]
|style="background:{{party color|Independent}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|Coalition opposition
|[[A. S. M. Abdur Rab]]
|[[List of members of the 4th Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[1991 Bangladeshi general election|5th Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Nationalist Party}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
|[[Khaleda Zia]]
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
|[[Sheikh Hasina]]
|[[List of members of the 5th Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[February 1996 Bangladeshi general election|6th Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Nationalist Party}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
|[[Khaleda Zia]]
|style="background:{{party color|}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|''None''
|''None''
|[[List of members of the 6th Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[June 1996 Bangladeshi general election|7th Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
|[[Sheikh Hasina]]
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Nationalist Party}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
|[[Khaleda Zia]]
|[[List of members of the 7th Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[2001 Bangladeshi general election|8th Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Nationalist Party}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
|[[Khaleda Zia]]
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
|[[Sheikh Hasina]]
|[[List of members of the 8th Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[2008 Bangladeshi general election|9th Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
|[[Sheikh Hasina]]
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Nationalist Party}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
|[[Khaleda Zia]]
|[[List of members of the 9th Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[2014 Bangladeshi general election|10th Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
|[[Sheikh Hasina]]
|style="background:{{party color|Jatiya Party (Ershad)}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Jatiya Party (Ershad)|Jatiya Party]]
|[[Rowshan Ershad]]
|[[List of members of the 10th Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[2018 Bangladeshi general election|11th Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
|[[Sheikh Hasina]]
|style="background:{{party color|Jatiya Party (Ershad)}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Jatiya Party (Ershad)|Jatiya Party]]
|[[Hussain Muhammad Ershad]]<br />[[Rowshan Ershad]]
|[[List of members of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''[[2024 Bangladeshi general election|12th Parliament]]'''
|style="background:{{party color|Bangladesh Awami League}}; color: white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Awami League]]
|[[Sheikh Hasina]]
|style="background:{{party color|Jatiya Party (Ershad)}}; color:white;" |&nbsp;
|[[Jatiya Party (Ershad)|Jatiya Party]]
|[[Ghulam Muhammed Quader]]
|[[List of members of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad]]
|-
|'''''[[2026 Bangladeshi general election|13th Parliament]]'''''
|style="background:{{party color|}}; color: white;" |&nbsp;
|''TBE''
|''TBE''
|style="background:{{party color|}}; color: white;" |&nbsp;
|''TBE''
|''TBE''
|''[[List of members of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad|TBE]]''
|}

==Organisation==
===Parliamentary groups===
The parliamentary groups of the Jatiya Sangsad are groups of members of Parliament organised by a political party or coalition of parties. The leadership of each groups consists of a parliamentary party leader, deputy leader, whips and a parliamentary working committee. The size of a group determines the extent of its representation on legislative committees, the time slots allotted for speaking, the number of committee chairs it can hold, and its representation in executive bodies of the parliament.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/about-parliament/key-person-of-bangladesh-parliament |title=Key Person of Bangladesh Parliament |website=Bangladesh Parliament |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150106112626/http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/about-parliament/key-person-of-bangladesh-parliament |archive-date=2015-01-06}}</ref>
*Current composition
**Government coalition
***[[Leader of the House (Bangladesh)|Leader of the House]]; the post is usually held by the [[prime minister of Bangladesh]]
***Deputy Leader of the House (who leads the day-to-day business of the government in the Parliament)
***[[Chief Whip (Bangladesh)|Chief Whip]] (who is supported by six additional whips)
**Official opposition
***[[Leader of the Opposition (Bangladesh)|Leader of the Opposition]]
***Deputy Leader of the Opposition
***Chief Whip of the Opposition

===Executive bodies===
{{Further|List of speakers of the Jatiya Sangsad}}

The Parliament's executive bodies include the [[speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad]], the House Committee and the Parliament Secretariat. The House Committee consists of the parliament speaker, deputy speaker and whips. Every major political party appoints a whip who is responsible for the party's discipline and behaviour of its members on the floor of the house. The committee is the coordination hub, determining the daily legislative agenda and assigning committee chairpersons based on parliamentary group representation. The Parliament Secretariat, headed by a senior secretary from the [[Bangladesh Administrative Service]], is in charge of all its supporting and advisory duties such as keeping a record of members' voting, speeches, advising on protocol, general clerical, broadcasting and information activities.
*Current composition:
**[[Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad]]
**[[Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad|Deputy Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad]]
**[[House Committee (Bangladesh)|House Committee]]
**[[Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban|Parliament Secretariat]]

===Committees===
Most of the legislative work in the Parliament is done in the standing committees, which exist largely unchanged throughout one legislative period. The Parliament has several committees, with small numbers of members appointed to deal with particular topics or issues. The Committees on Ministry (CoM) are committees that are set down under the Parliament's standing orders. The number of Committees in the Ministry approximates the number of [[ministries of Bangladesh]], and the titles of each are roughly similar (e.g., defence, agriculture, and labour). There are, as of the current tenth Parliament, 50 standing committees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/parliamentary-business/committees/list-of-committees/name-of-committees-for-10th-parliament-english |title=Name of Committees for 10th Parliament (English) |website=Bangladesh Parliament |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927054150/http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/parliamentary-business/committees/list-of-committees/name-of-committees-for-10th-parliament-english |archive-date=2023-09-27}}</ref> The distribution of committee chairs and the membership of each committee reflect the relative strength of the various Parliamentary groups in the house.
*Current committees:
**Committee on Estimates
**Committee on Government Assurances
**Standing Committee on Public Accounts
**Library Committee
**Committee on Petitions
**Committee on Private Member's Bills and Resolutions
**Standing Committee of Privileges
**House Committee
**Business Advisory Committee
**Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure
**Committee on Public Undertakings
**39 Committees on Ministry (CoMs)

==Structures==
===Parliament House===
{{main|Sangsad Bhaban}}

The parliament is housed in the [[Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban]] (জাতীয় সংসদ ভবন ''Jatiyô Sôngsôd Bhôbôn''), located at [[Sher-e-Bangla Nagar]] in the Bangladeshi capital of [[Dhaka]]. Designed by the American architect [[Louis Kahn]], the building is one of the largest [[legislative]] complexes in the world, comprising {{cvt|200|acre}}.<ref name="banglapedia.org">{{cite web |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Jatiya_Sangsad_Bhaban |title=Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban |work=Banglapedia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.design.upenn.edu/archives/majorcollections/kahn/likdacca.html |title=National Capital of Bangladesh Project Page |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524022905/http://www.design.upenn.edu/archives/majorcollections/kahn/likdacca.html |archive-date=24 May 2012 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania |url-status=dead}}</ref> Louis Kahn designed the entire Jatiya Sangsad complex, which includes lawns, lake and residences for the members of the Parliament (MPs). The main building, which is at the centre of the complex, is divided into three parts – the Main Plaza, South Plaza and Presidential Plaza.
===Sangsad Library===
The Sangsad Library or Parliament Library claims to be the most comprehensive in Bangladesh, holding over 85,000 books and many more reports, parliamentary debates, government gazettes, journals, magazines and newspapers. The library is housed in Sangsad Bhaban in Sher e Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. The library was established in 1972, after the immediate formation of the [[Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh]] to support the lawmakers and their staff. The library is administered by the parliamentary librarian, a statutory officer responsible for the control and management of the facility, reporting to the deputy speaker and the Library Committee. Although the library is open to the public, only current and former members of Parliament, secretariat staff, and authorised researchers may check out books and materials.

===Sangsad Television===
{{main|Sangsad Television}}

The Sangsad Bangladesh Television (publicly known as Sangsad TV) is a digital television channel in Bangladesh. It broadcasts parliamentary activity following its establishment under the Broadcasting Act 2011. Prior to the establishment of the Sangsad TV, the Sangsad's programming was produced by the [[Ministry of Information (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Information]] and relayed in its [[Bangladesh Television]].

==Proposed reforms==
A proposal to reform Bangladesh's legislature from a [[unicameral]] to a [[bicameral]] system has been suggested by legal scholars and policy experts. According to a 2025 analysis published in ''[[Verfassungsblog]]'', the aim of the proposal is to enhance democratic oversight and improve representation.<ref name="Verfassungsblog">{{cite web |last1=Hosen Khan |first1=Arafat |date=18 April 2025 |title=Reforming the Legislature in Bangladesh: A Critical Analysis of the Semi-Parliamentary Proposal in the 2025 Constitutional Reform Commission Report |url=https://verfassungsblog.de/reforming-the-legislature-in-bangladesh/ |publisher=[[Verfassungsblog]] |doi=10.59704/97d7e8934e9b1c94 |doi-access=free |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250418144159/https://verfassungsblog.de/reforming-the-legislature-in-bangladesh/ |archive-date=18 April 2025 }}</ref>

[[File:Semi-Parliamentary System Diagram.png|thumb|left|Under the proposed reforms, voters would be able to directly elect both chambers of the Sangsad, with the lower chamber would have the power to nominated or remove the prime minister & the cabinet as seen in the [[semi-parliamentary system]] (pictured), however, unlike the semi-parliamentary system, both legislative & confidential functions would be carried out by the lower chamber, making it a hybrid parliament system.]]

The suggested system would consist of two chambers: a National Assembly ([[lower house]]) and a Senate ([[upper house]]), each serving four-year terms. The National Assembly would consist of 400 members:
* 300 directly elected by a [[first-past-the-post]] (FPTP) system;
* 100 women elected from [[Women in government#Quotas|reserved]] constituencies;
* A 10% youth representation quota, with the [[Age of candidacy|candidacy age]] lowered to 21.

The Senate would comprise 105 members:
* 100 elected via [[proportional representation]] (PR), reflecting vote shares from the National Assembly elections;
* 5 nominated by the President to represent marginalised communities.

Under the proposed model, the Senate would not introduce legislation but would have powers to review, suggest amendments, and delay bills passed by the National Assembly, offering a mechanism for legislative moderation. This model draws from practices in other [[parliamentary democracies]] and includes [[Semi-parliamentary system|semi-parliamentary]] characteristics designed to balance executive-legislative relations and enhance inclusive governance.<ref name="ProthomAlo">{{cite web |last1=Karim |first1=Riadul |date=27 January 2025 |title=Upper house won't be able to propose law |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/government/xo5tgybjph |work=[[Prothom Alo]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127064026/https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/government/xo5tgybjph |archive-date=27 January 2025 }}</ref>

A [[Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik]] (ShuJonN) opinion poll conducted on 1,373 person between May and July 2025 found that 71% people in the country support PR in the proposed upper house of the Jatiya Sangsad and 69% people support bicameral legislature for the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=পিআর পদ্ধতিতে উচ্চকক্ষ চান ৭১ শতাংশ মানুষ: সুজন|url=https://www.banglatribune.com/others/910875/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A7%AD%E0%A7%A7-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%A8|website=[[Bangla Tribune]]|date=12 August 2025}}</ref>

After month-long dialogue with the political parties, the National Consensus Commission, set up by the [[Yunus ministry|interim government]] to build consensus among parties over basic reforms, finalised its decision to establish a bicameral legislature for Bangladesh comprising 450 seats, with the upper chamber comprising 100 seats to be nominated through PR from the popular vote share with 1% threshold, and the lower chamber comprising 350 seats to be combinedly nominated through FPTP and PR as usual. Although women-researved seats in the proposed lower chamber would remain 50, the parties would be obliged to nominate at least 7% female candidates in the general elections. Though the upper chamber would not poses any legislative power, it would have mandate to review any bills or laws proposed by the lower chamber and every bill (except financial bills) have to be presented to the both chambers. The upper chamber cannot hold any bill more than a month, if holds, then the bill would be considered "unapproved" and would be send back to the lower chamber to review again.<ref name="dw">{{cite web|title=সংসদের উচ্চকক্ষে সংখ্যানুপাতিক নির্বাচন|trans-title=Proportional elections in the parliament's upper chamber|url=https://www.dw.com/bn/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF/a-73509373|website=[[Deutsche Welle Bangla]]|date=2 August 2025}}</ref>

Political analysts welcome the decision for introducing PR based on popular votes in the upper chamber, although the country's largest opposition [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] (BNP) and its allies objected the decision and favoured seat distribution of the upper chamber based on lower chamber distributions.<ref name="dw" />

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Final proposal on the composition of bicameral legislature of Bangladesh
! House !! Method of Selection !! Number of Members !! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" | '''National Assembly'''|| Direct election ({{Abbr|FPTP|first-past-the-post}}) || 300 || General constituencies; with 7% female candidacy quota
|-
| Proportional representation ({{Abbr|PR|proportional representation}}) || 50 || Based on the directly elected seats of the National Assembly
|-
|'''Senate'''|| Proportional representation ({{Abbr|PR|proportional representation}}) || 100 || Based on popular vote share in the general elections with 1% [[electoral threshold|threshold]]
|-
! colspan="2" |'''Total'''
|'''450'''
|
|}

==See also==
*[[List of members of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad]]
*[[Politics of Bangladesh]]
*[[List of acts of the Jatiya Sangsad]]
*[[List of legislatures by country]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite web |year=2012 |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/ |editor=Sirajul Islam |editor-link=Sirajul Islam |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}
*{{cite book |author=Pranab Kumar Panday |title=Women's Political Participation in Bangladesh: Institutional Reforms, Actors and Outcomes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0f4_AAAAQBAJ |isbn=978-81-322-1271-3 |publisher=Springer India |year=2013}}
*{{cite web |title=Parliament Member of Bangladesh |url=http://bdaffairs.com/parliament-member-of-bangladesh/ |website=Bangladesh Affairs |access-date=15 April 2017 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708050325/http://bdaffairs.com/parliament-member-of-bangladesh |url-status=dead}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.parliament.gov.bd/}}
*{{commons-inline}}

{{Coord|23|45|44|N|90|22|43|E|display=title}}
{{Bangladesh topics}}
{{Government of Bangladesh}}
{{Asia topic|Parliament of|title=Parliaments of Asia}}
{{National unicameral legislatures}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1973 establishments in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Parliament of Bangladesh| ]]
[[Category:National legislatures|Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Unicameral legislatures|Bangladesh]]