Parliamentary Committee system of Bangladesh

(A review of 8th and 9th parliament)

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Islamic University Kushtia, Bangladesh.

Masters of Development Studies (MDS) (Session- January 2016 to December 2016)

Department:

Politics and Public Administration

Title of the Internship:

Parliamentary Committee System of Bangladesh

(A review of 8th and 9th Parliament.)

Dissertation Submitted By:

Susanta Sarkar Subho Registration No- EV-2142

Roll No- 071616

Submitted to:

Professor Dr. Raqiba Yasmin Chairman, Department of Political Science

Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh

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Notice

It is hereby declared that, this is an internship titled “Parliamentary Committee

System of Bangladesh; A review of 8th and 9th Parliament” which is developed by

“Susanta Sarkar Subho”, Student of Masters of Development Studies (MDS),

Session January 2016 to December 2016, under Politics and Public Administration

Department of Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh that is supervised by the

below signatory, is only for obtaining the MDS degree under the university. He bears

registration number EV-2142, Roll No- MDS-071616 during academic calendar.

The academic article which has Six Chapter, three Annexure and other contents that

are collected from different books, research papers, journal and newspapers. The

subject of the internship was delegated to him to show his advance study on the

fundamental parliamentary business.

Professor Dr. Raqiba Yasmin

Chairman, Department of Political Science

Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In modern democracies, parliament has numerous duties. As a key state organ, it examines the

legislative proposals in the process of their passage and is entrusted with overseeing executive

responsibilities and keeps an eye on government activities. Parliamentary committee system is the

most vital structure that permits the legislators to divide up their labor and specialize in particular

areas of activities. It is therefore the most significant legislative mechanism and is often referred to

as “Small legislatures” of their parent bodies. There is a tendency around the world to rely on

committees for accomplishing much of the parliamentary activities. In this regard, Bangladesh is

not an exception. Being a South Asian country, it has had familiarity with committee system since

last century when the country was under British colonial rule. Bangladesh emerged as an

independent state in 1971 following nearly two centuries of British rule and a further quarter century

of Pakistan. The new state of Bangladesh adopted parliamentary system of government. All

legislative power of the state was vested to the parliament. Though all favorable conditions for

parliamentary democracy were ensured in the constitution, differences between the political parties

and overwhelming domination of government party and their refusal to recognize the official

opposition party in the parliament prevented building a responsible executive. In a sweeping

change, parliamentary form of government was replaced by one party presidential system and soon

the new system was abolished when the military seized the state by a bloody military coup in 1975.

Between 1975 and 1990, the country was under military dominated civil‐military regimes.

Parliaments formed during this period were intended to serve the purpose of the regime’s interests.

With mass upsurge, military authoritarian regime was ended and parliamentary form of government

was restored in 1991. Since the restoration of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh, committee

system is taken seriously in the political as well as in the academic arena because of its importance

in the parliamentary process. In this internship paper, I try to discuss on two governments

parliamentary committee management, 8th Parliament and 9th parliament of Jatiyo Sangsad of

Bangladesh. The 8th parliament was four party alliance government leaded by Bangladesh

Nationalist Party (BNP) and 9th is the fourteen-party alliance leaded by Bangladesh Awami League

(AL). I applied historical combination, data analytical and descriptive approach. Description and

analysis are presented to show institutional environment, strength, culture and practices in viewing

democratic & supplementary of good governance and data compression is to show the expected

outcome form parliamentary business from committee and the accountability approaches. My

analysis and description are presented comprising Rule of Procedure of JS and the Bangladesh

Constitution. In this paper, I try to present impotency of committee in parliamentary business and

a comparative scenario with developed countries committee systems. Most of the data and

information is from secondary and primary sources. To examine the effectiveness of parliamentary

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committee, I collected different research papers, presentations, books of researchers and different

journals which are mostly collected from internet as this is most effective media of information,

communication and distance learning. In my view, internet is a great store of knowledge. The data

which are presented most of them are collected from TIB publications. Rather, it is very difficult to

collect from parliamentary library and other publishing journal. The analysis presents in my work

showed that the committees were more active in overseeing government activities rather than

analyzing policy issues. In a conflicting political environment, committee activities are greatly

influenced by the political parties. Lack of compromise between the parties to some extent makes

the committees dysfunctional. Despite the existing limitations, committees provide a training

ground for the legislators to improve their parliamentary norms and procedural knowledge.

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Declaration

I do hereby declare that I have written this internship myself, and that it would not

been submitted to any other university for a degree.

Susanta Sarkar Subho Kushtia, Bangladesh

December 23, 2016.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The internship, “Effectiveness of Parliamentary Committee System of Bangladesh: A review of 8th

and 9th Parliament” was a gift by my honorable supervisor Professor Dr. Raqiba Yasmin,

Chairman, Department of Political Science, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh. I would like

to express my heartiest gratitude to her as she gave me such kind of enjoyable work, a fundamental

political discipline. Her kind guidance and constant support and follow-up enabled me to complete

this ideal work. It must be mentioned that her scholarly supervision helped me to clarify my

thoughts and ideas. It could not be possible if she did not guide me to collect data and information

for the work. She supervised me refereeing the norms of thesis writing and smarter ways to gather

information, the use of information and the style which should be follow to disseminate, incorporate

and synthetize the information. I owed gratitude to all my teachers of Development Studies of

Islamic University, Kushite. I am very glad that being a student of Development Studies, I worked

on a basic political system of a country, “constitutional business” which was spontaneous selection

by my supervisor. I also pay my core thanks to my family stayed far from me. During the work, my

beloved wife inspired me to indulge into and my thirteen months’ daughter who missed me from

loves, affections and cares. I tried my best to incorporate correct information and data to elaborate

the internship.

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CONTENTS

List of Tables:

1. At a glance of Committees of ROP

2. 9th Parliamentary Committee

3. Women participation in 9th Parliament

List of Figures and Boxes:

1. % of occupation of committee members of 9th parliament

2. 9th parliaments decisions Vs Achievements

Abbreviation and Acronym:

AL : Awami League

BNP : Bangladesh Nationalist Party

CS : Civil Society

JS : Jatiya Sangsad

MP : Member of Parliament

NGO : Non-Governmental Organization

PMBR : Private Members Bill Review

ROP : Rule of Procedure

TIB : Transparency International Bangladesh

UNDP : United Nations Development Program

UK : United Kingdom

USA : United States of America

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Index

Sl Chapter and Topic Page No.

Chapter: 01

Introduction and Conceptual Framework

1.1 Introduction 10

1.2 Research Issues 11

1.3 Significance of Parliamentary System: 12

1.4 Conceptual Framework 12

1.4.1 Political environment: 12

1.4.2 Formal-legal framework: 15

1.5 Literature Review: 16

1.6 Methodology of the work 16

1.7 Overview of the internship 17

Chapter: 02

Parliamentary Committee in another parliament

2.1 Introduction: 18

2.2 United Kingdom: 18

2.3 United States of America (USA) 18

2.4 Germany: 19

2.5 India: 19

2.6 Summary of the chapter: 20

Chapter: 03

History of parliament structure of Bangladesh

3.1 Sabha -Samiti and Panchayats: Tradition of Representative Institutions: 21

3.2 Parliamentary Structures: British Colonial Period (1854-1947): 21

3.3 Committees in the Bengal Legislative Assembly: 22

3.4 Committees in the East Pakistan Legislature (1947-71): 22

3.5 Parliamentary Structure in Independent Bangladesh: 23

Chapter: 04

Parliamentary system of Bangladesh Jatiyo Sangshad

4.1 Introduction: 24

4.2 Formal-Legal Framework 24

Constitution: 24

Rule of Procedure: 25

4.3 4.3. At a glance of Committees of ROP: 26

4.3.1. Non-Ministerial Standing Committee (NMSC): 29

a) Business Advisory Committee (BAC) 29

b) The House Committee: 30

c) The Committee on Government Assurances: 30

d) The Committee on Petitions and the Committee on Privileges: 30

e) The Financial Committee: 30

i) The Committee on Public Accounts (PAC): 30

ii) The Committee on Estimates (EC): 30

iii) The Committee on Public Undertaking (PUC): 31

4.3.2. Ministerial Standing Committees (MSC): 31

a) Ad hoc Committees: 31

i) The Select Committee on a Bill: 32

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Sl Chapter and Topic Page No.

ii)Special Committees: 32

b) Sub Committees: 32

4.4 Composition of Committee 32

4.5 Tenure of Committee: 32

4.6 Sitting of Committee: 32

4.7 Report of Committee: 33

4.8 Speaker’s decision regarding committee affairs: 33

4.9 Committee Procedure: 33

4.10 Committee: 33

4.11 Members: 33

4.12 Chairman of Committee: 34

4.13 Main Functions of Committee: 34

4.14 Administrative Structure and Services to Committee system: 34

4.15 Political Parties: 35

4.16 Summary of the chapter 36

Chapter: 05

Overview of 8th and 9th parliamentary sanding committee

5.1 Introduction: 38

5.2 9th Parliamentary Committee: 38

5.3 Professional background of committee background: 40

5.4 Female participation: 40

5.5 Women Participation in 9th Parliament: 41

5.6 Committee Business: 41

5.7 Committee Report: 42

5.8 Comparative study 42

5.9 Comparison with Other Countries 43

5.10 Criticism: 43

5.11 Lesson Learnt and Recommendation 44

Chapter:06 Summary and conclusion

Annexure

i Annexure: 01 47 Important Glossary: 50

ii Annexure: 02 50

Article 76 of the Bangladesh Constitution: 54

iii Annexure-03 54 Rules of Procedure 55

A Bibliography 55

B References 68

C Journal and Newspapers 69

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Chapter: 01

Introduction and Conceptual Framework

1.1. Introduction:

This is a study on parliamentary committees with particular reference to Bangladesh. The main

implication of this work is ‘how do parliamentary committees perform when placed in the political

context of post- colonial societies, where the political institutions, at least partly, have been imposed

from outside rather than being fully indigenous. The presented internship focuses on the

performances of parliamentary committees 8th and 9th parliaments. In doing so, this section first

analyzes the evolution of the parliamentary structures with necessary examples.

Bangladesh, the new identification by name of East Bangle to East Pakistan emerged as an independent

state in 1971, after about two centuries of British rule and a further quarter century of Pakistani rule.

The new independent country developed a new constitution, which was promulgated in 1972, adopted

a parliamentary system of government reflecting the aspirations of the people who had struggled to

achieve such a democratic system since the British colonial days. The Bangladesh Constitution entrusted

all legislative authority to a unicameral Parliament called the ‘Jatiyo Sangsad’. The President was made

the nominal head of the executive while the real executive power of the state was vested to the Prime

Minister like the cabinet government as practiced in Britain. The Prime Minister and the cabinet were

collectively responsible to the parliament. For ensuring government accountability to the parliament,

constitution makers incorporated the provision of the parliamentary committee system in Article 76 of

the Constitution. Article 76 of the Constitution formally granted the parliament the authority to appoint

standing committees as necessary for discharging its functions. Though many favorable pre-conditions

of the parliamentary system of the government were provided in the Constitution, lack of separation

between state, government and party, depending party machinery on the leader, differences between the

political parties, undermining of a free and fair electoral process, overwhelming majority of the

government party in the parliament and their refusal to recognize the existence of the official opposition

hindered the opportunities for the regime to practice norms and conventions of the parliamentary form

of the government. A political turmoil happened in newly political society to create an accessible

political environment ‘democracy’, state power coped by military and the constitutional buffering of

democracy spoiled from 1975 to 1990. The constitution and parliament was dogged by military

administration and the functional politicization and culture were grassed under weed. The military

mentors tried to induce military legislature but it was not success. During the military regime, three

parliaments had been formed under presidential form of govern that was mostly rubber stamp like

institution. The article 76 of the constitution was a far crying. The most mispens of the constitution was

its different amendment and comprising. In 1991, the hungered democracy of the life of Bangladesh

mustering parliament democracy plundering constitution and foremost go. And the parliamentary

business starts it new journey with accomplishing committee system viewing same inspiration of the

begging constitution. From 1991 to 2016 there are five elected parliaments though there are different

discomfort about election process.

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1.2. Research Issues

Since the restoration of the parliamentary system in 1991, the committee system has created

interests both in political science discipline and research prospectus. Academic discipline like

obtaining a higher degree, universities and students are choosing JS committee system. Different

national and international organizations or donor agencies, citizen forums and media emphasize on

strengthening the committee system towards demanding government accountability by the

parliament. Considering the above discussion this intern seeks to answer how do committees

perform in a parliament where the political institutions mainly adopted from outside rather than

being fully indigenous. Focusing on the following issues this research attempts to assess the

performances of the committees in the post 1990 Bangladesh parliaments with necessary examples

and illustrations. In this internship, it encompasses the below areas:

1) Formal arrangements of the committee system including composition, structure and functions of

the committees.

2) Institutional mechanism affecting the functioning of the committee system in Bangladesh.

3) Performance of the committees of the Jatiya Sangsad regarding the legislative and overseeing

processes.

4) The parliamentary committees and the society connection focusing on the role of the media and

the civil society.

1.3. Significance of Parliamentary System:

Modern state management is the age of Parliament. To make well function parliament, parliament

experts the origin of Parliamentary Committees is the British Parliament which was started in

seventeenth centuries. Then the role of the committees scrutinized the legislative bill. Gradually

model of parliamentary function increased its dimension and USA, Germany and other democratic

countries. In past, committees were not as much powerful as the present have. Now it is said that

committees of parliament as a little legislature. Day to day the legislature is becoming more

dependable in committees. In this circumstance, Committee system has evolved to make the

parliamentary activities more effective. Drafting legislation takes place in the committees; the

plenary does much less, because it has only limited amount of time to consider the draft bill. It

becomes a general feature that much of the real parliamentary deliberations take place in the

committees. For the last three decades, throughout the world, committee system has emerged as

vibrant and important structure of the parent body. Therefore, it is a global trend to view the

committee system as an important structural element of the parent body. Around the world there is

a trend to move towards more reliance on committees to conduct the work of parliament, and the

greatest reason for this trend is a concern for efficiency. It is observed that the committees are the

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chief instruments for making decisions with regard to legislation and authorization and oversight of

administrative actions. Committee system gradually has become the nucleus of many legislatures

entrusted with the tasks of scrutinizing legislative proposals and monitoring government activities

in favor of transparency and accountability. The most obvious purpose of committees is to scrutinize

the activities of the executive branch, which includes administrative oversight and financial

oversight. Permanent committees corresponding to the government departments are assigned to

oversee particular government department. Most parliaments thus employee financial committees

like Budget Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee or Government

Undertakings Committees for monitoring financial matters. In the recent decades, the focus of the

parliamentary committees has been shifted from legislative deliberation to placing an emphasis on

their oversight role. While parliaments declined in status and effectiveness, subject based new

committees have been introduced to achieve effective control over government. In recent decades,

subject based departmental standing committees open the windows for the legislators to develop

their expertise on particular areas.

1.4. Conceptual Framework

Parliamentary Committee activities depend upon a variety of factors. The factors that affect the

working of parliamentary committees can be divided into three fields:

a) Political Environment

b) Committee Structure

c) Committee Capacity

1.4.1. Political environment:

Political environment is a great factor of committee activates. Political environment depends on

few factors. Such as State Structure, Political Situation, Political Parties, Bureaucracy, Interest

Groups, Civil society and Media. A short narration:

i) State Structure: Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, the three are the structure of a

state. Three types of political systems are commonly found that are presidential system,

parliamentary system and semi-presidential system. The former is based upon the

principle of separation of power and operates through the constitutional system of check

and balance. In this system, each branch of the government has some scrutiny and

control over other branches that is a factor of committee system. Such as in USA

constitution, there are checks and balance system. Separation of power of the three

branches are absent in USA congress. The constitution is a presidential system. Again,

in which parliament, has legislative and executive are controlled by political executive.

UK, India and other countries have such political system. And In a hybrid system,

executive power is shared between a separately elected a President and a Prime Minister or

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Chancellor who are separately elected. It is sometimes termed as the semi-presidential

system if the constitution and/or political circumstances tend to place emphasis on the power

of the President. If the Prime Minister and the legislative leaders enjoy more power than the

President does, it may be referred to as a semi-parliamentary system where the President

does more power than Prime Minister and the Legislature it is may be referred to as a semi-

presidential. Parliament experts argued, in the Presidential parliament, committee system is

more strong than Cabinet parliamentary system. Separation of power is very important to

function the committees well. In Ministerial parliamentary system, legislature and executive

are controlled by a same leader and same political party in both house. And they practice

the law which the party men accept, and the committee people are from legislature leading

party, and the committee become use less.

ii) Political Situation: Political Situation is another factor of committees’ function. We

found different political situations, sometimes parliament becomes inactive or abolished

for political upraising. Sometimes, parliament is being manipulated by the executives,

sometimes, there are a less control of executives and sometimes, only parliament

becomes policy or rule making house. These kinds of political abruption are frequently

happened in the third world countries. These kinds of situations arise when state power

coped by military administration, the military rulers try to legalize their rule in

legislature, become rubber stamp parliament, absence of constitutional behavior. The

military ruler forms political party and shows a mock election, become one party alliance

of the state and smashed the major pillars of a country. Again, parliament and politics

becomes one party executive by one political party. Such kinds of situation create

political turmoil and government change frequently. As the government changed

frequently, the parliament gets new MP and the committee of parliament gets new

delegations. The new delegations are not experience and do not mean business properly.

Ultimately, the power of committee goes to the leader of house and accountability of the

government becomes autocratic.

iii) Political party: This is another factor of success of committees. Political party men

become the member of the house and the parliament party selects men to forming

committees. Whip of the house listed the members who will go which committee. The

committee members are selected from their elected MPs and they mostly seek political

merit and age of politics. Sometimes, influential political leader and personal interest

MP lobbies to get nomination of committee member or chair. Present practices are, the

parliament party does not consider opposition party MPs to nominate in parliamentary

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committee. In political practices, opposition party always criticize the power party and

the power party does not take it as positive apron. In this view, the power party takes its

MPs in committees for more control for party will and commitment and keep behind the

opposition party men. As a result, the committee people do not debate any decisions, the

role of committee breaks. So, committee will depend on political parties and behaviors.

iv) Interest Groups: Presently, interest groups are being involved in politics. The interest

group people tries to get nomination for Parliament. If wins, then tries to get appointment

in committee. When they become a man of policy maker, they will try to incorporate

their interest into rule or law which will be passed by the house. Not only such way the

interest group works. Interest groups or associations are directly or indirectly involved

in the process of government through different channels. Among the various channels,

parliamentary committee system is one of the important organs to influence government

policies. They pursue three strategies to accomplish their demands in the committees.

They maintain a good contact with the committee members, they have members in the

parties who peruse to get appointment on the appropriate committee or they maintain a

contact with political parties outside the parliament. Safely observed that members of a

parliamentary group whether small or large have strong ties with associations.

v) Civil Society: Civil society has appeared as an important factor in strengthening

democracy in the developing states. It is often populated by organized groups and

institutions that are independent of the state such as Non-Governmental Organizations

(NGOs), professionals, academia, social and religious groups. It may be defined as

‘people coming together around a common concern, a concern which is linked to the

values of the wider society, and insisting that the major institutions--the state, political

parties, and business take these values into consideration. Civil society plays important

role in democratic system in policy or decision making process. CS arises voice or gives

opinion on a bill to review, amendment or any. If CS could have the chance to see into

a bill for the will of nation than accountability and transparency of committee will be

increased. Civil society is seen active in promoting participation, advocating for

transparency and accountability in new and restored democratic countries. The

developing states, particularly which emerged from decades of dictatorship need to find

ways to monitor and restrain the power of the political leaders and bureaucracy. It has

been observed that in these states, civil society raised public concern about any misuse

of power. They worked for controlling the power of the state and corruption. The

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countries where electoral process and parliament remain weak and fragile, civil society

actors work there to improve democratic governance.

vi) Media: A media is a mirror of nation. A strong media composition keeps the

government straight forward. In committee functions, media coverage will collect public

opinion on a work of legislature. In committee business, media will appear there. The

independence of the media from state control is crucially important in publicizing the

activities of the parliaments. The countries where media is strictly regulated by the state

apparatus have a great chance to promote partisan interests. On the contrary, media in

private hands' and with regulatory flexible framework have wider opportunity to project

the activities of the parliament neutrally. However, media houses tended to promote

certain principle or ideology. Thus, the role of media in publicizing the parliamentary

activities depends upon the nature of the ideology of the owner and state principles.

1.4.2. Formal-legal framework:

The constitution and the rules of procedure are the two sources of committee organization and their

functioning. The constitution generally defines the jurisdiction of committees and in some cases, it

is mandatory for the parliament to appoint some specific committees. The constitution also sets out

broad principles of information acquisition. Right to demand presence of ministers for witnesses,

right to demand documents or to hold public hearing depends upon the power given in the

constitution. The rules of procedure specify actual number of committees and their method of

functioning.

i) Committee type: In different country or parliament has different kinds or types of

committee but few of them are mostly same in functions. Around the world,

committees are broadly categorized into two types: permanent and ad hoc type

committees. Permanent committees can further be broken into ministerial standing

committees and non-ministerial standing committees. Permanent committees, which

parallel the structure of the ministries, have greater opportunities for policy activity

than those which are temporary and which have different principles of formation.

ii) Committee selection process: Committee selection process depends on the will of

government. The constitution of the parliament demands few select committees that

could be ruled in procedure and all the rest standing committee will be selected by

the house leader. Few committees are selected by the Speaker of the parliament and

some of them are nominated by the leader of the house. There is rule or procedure

shows, the ability of being member or benign the chairman of the committee. Some

committee’s chairman become some ex-officio. Sometimes, the parliament select

some special committee or ad hoc committee or subcommittee for smarter business

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purpose. Select committees select to meet national demand and political manifesto.

There is a remarkable gap in practice that, the ruling party when enjoys the power to

select the committees, could not discuss with the opposition parliamentary party.

1.5. Literature Review:

The role of parliamentary committee system can be understood in the contexts of its emergence and

working. Here, a review of the existing literature about various issues of the committee system will

be discussed. Most of the data are collected from TIB. Literature work of Ronaque Jahan and Inge

Amundsen present their work titled “The parliament of Bangladesh Representation and

Accountability” where they tried to influence in parliamentary business and upwards. Md.Awal

Hossain Mollah, Lecturer, Rajjshahi University discussed about good governance issues in hi work

“Good Governance of Bangladesh: Role of the Parliament”. An assessment work by World Bank

Group, “Bangladesh: Country Financial Accountability Assessment, Parliamentary Control Over

Public Expenditure in Bangladesh: The Role of Committees” tries to present weakness of

Bangladesh parliament to ensure financial accountability & “Orientation Handbook for Members

of Parliaments” written by John K. Johnson Robert T. Nakamura World Bank, tries to show roles

and responsibility of MP of Bangladesh Legislature. “Committee System of Bangladesh

Parliament” Committee Supporting wing, Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat, constructively

presented about parliamentary committee systems framework. “Effectiveness of Parliamentary

Standing Committees in Bangladesh: Challenges and Way Forward”, TIB presented parliamentray

committee systems challenges to implements. H.W. R. Wate discusses constitutional development

approaches in his work “Constitutional Fundamentals”. K.M. Mohiuddin discusses ins and outs of

parliamentary committee system and Development of Bangladesh. He discussed historical

perspective of Committee system of Bangladesh as well as discusses challenges and suggestions.

Md. Navid Ullah discussed major perspective and development of Parliamentary System of

Bangladesh.

1.6. Methodology of the work

In this thesis paper, I go through a scientific method to gather information. In this thesis, I presented

historical combination analysis and descriptive approaches. During the work, I accomplished a

glance of different activities and achievements of parliamentary committees of 8th and 9th

parliament of Bangladesh. To evaluate committee system in legislature, I discuss a short on

developed parliaments committee system. To explain present legal framework and social

involvement in committee systems are comparatively narrated in political viewpoints. There is

comparative discussion of the 8th and 9th parliament committee practices. There are few data and

information presented as because there are not enough data in my collection. Different literature

review, research papers, journal and paper were collected from internet. The information is mostly

collected from different web pages. There are few constructive criticism on committee system of

Bangladesh and prescribed few recommendation in viewing democracy. I tried to show

qualifications of the committee members and personal interest as mostly seen politics are engulf by

interest group to gain personal interest. I presented women participation and engagement in

parliamentary business. I used a very few abbreviations in discussion as it could be easy understand.

There are few political terms are note in my research which will be an element to get understand

narration.

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1.7. Overview of the internship

Bangladesh is being introduced as a democratic country around the world. It has a long journey

since British rule. After a long dedication of revolution for democracy, 1971skecthes its shape. But,

the beauty of democracy differently becomes polluted. Though that incidence, constitutional

development of Bangladesh was being restored and the practices are in run. Parliamentary

committee systems of the constitution of Bangladesh in legislature and its functions, effectiveness

etc. are discussed in the work. To examine it, there are different references, data and information

discussed and used which are collected from different sources.

To present the discussion, I divided it in different chapters. In first chapter-01 it is discussed about

conceptual framework of parliamentary committee system to examine significance of parliamentary

committee system with books, journals and newspapers. Chapter two discusses different

parliamentary committee systems to incorporate evaluation of Bangladesh Parliamentary

Committee System. Chapter three discusses history of parliamentary system of Bangladesh. In this

chapter I mentioned traditional concept of committee system in law making process. Journeys of

committee system in a formal way in British India, Pakistan period and in Bangladesh. Chapter four

discusses present parliamentary systems of Bangladesh where I incorporate formal framework like

the constitution article, rule of procedures for parliamentary party. Here I discussed on different

parliamentary committee structures and procedures. Chapter Five is narrated with different data and

information in a statistical way to represent 8th and 9th parliamentary activities. In compression of

two parliamentary achievement, I present a critical criticism and discussion. There are different

recommendations on parliamentary committee activities for democratization of parliamentary

business. Chapter Six is a conciliation summary where different comments of experts are

represented. The paper has a glossary with note. The Internship also contains Article of Constitution

of Bangladesh and ROP of the parliament in annexure. At last Bibliography and references.

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Chapter: 02

Parliamentary Committee in another parliament

2.1. Introduction:

The committee system in parliament is an old practice in parliamentary systems. Different has

different framework of parliamentary system. It depends of political environment of that country.

The members of parliamentary committee usually come from majority party of legislature. But,

very few parliament practices propositional divide among parliamentary parties. It shows the

political discipline of the parliament and symbol of democratic practices. Number of Member and

number of committee also are the matter of parliamentary system and framework. Chairman of the

committee is a major factor for nomination. Now, we can see a nutshell of committee systems of

different parliament.

2.2. United Kingdom:

The mother of Democracy, British parliament, practices parliamentary committee system. The

committees work upon Westminster system. There are two kinds of standing committee:

a) Selected Parliamentary Committee: Any bill automatically comes to Selected committee to

get final recommendation and review which is more powerful than standing committee. This

committee is parament and will work till the parliament tenure. The committee will

oversight administrative budget, expenditure and other ministerial or departmental issues.

b) Standing Committee of House: Any bill could review or set recommendation or proposal of

amendment, but it should be submitted to selected committee for final recommendation.

When a bill comes the committee, it will be act as ad hoc committee.

2.3. United States of America (USA)

The two parts composition, the world’s strong second house of parliament ‘Senate’ and the house

of Representative of USA Congress, has strong committee system. Most of the major legislative

decisions, bill, rules and other policies of house go to Congressional Committees or sub committees.

The two house have two system of committee and their work is different in nature. The house of

Representative has 19 committees and the Senate has 15 committees. The committees could

summon if administrative officials do not co-operate with the committees positively. The

committees may recommend a bill or to amend the bill to pass in house. The committees may

change a bill entirely expect the tile of the bill and could report the bill in place of the amendment.

It could stop a bill to pass in house. According the sort narration, it assumes that, committee system

of USA is a strong democratic practice for the nation. President Woodrow Wilson predicted that,

the congressional government is the committee government and he also ascertained that Congress

in its committee room is Congress at works.

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2.4. Germany:

The parliament (Budestag) takes a decision on the number of committees to be constituted and on

their composition at the beginning of each electoral team. Germany has three constitutional law;

Basic Law, Federation Law and Special Law. There is a parliamentary group system. The group

constitutes the committee members and replace and removal are also vested in the group. At the

beginning of the parliament, the group formats 23 permanent committees for the full time electoral.

12 committees are formatted by parliamentary majority party by code and 11 other committees are

formatted by the opposition parliamentary party. Two kinds of committees: a) Permanent and b)

Special committee are in practices of legislation. Only permanent committee could form sub or ad

hoc committee if feels needs (ROP 45). There is a Lead committee to present any recommended

bill of the committees in plenary. According the Basic Law of Budetag, for any summon or

interview, parliamentary group will confirm the obligation. The Budget committee reviews

budgetary projections, government and administrative annual expenditure. Committee system of

Germany is a multifaceted and complex procedure. The house of Elder practices supreme authority

of committee functions.

2.5. India:

India is one of the democratic government of the world. The parliament business has committee

system. The parliamentary committees are divided into different categories. These are-

a) Financial Committees

b) Departmentally Related Standing Committees;

c) Other Parliamentary Standing Committees; and

d) Ad hoc Committees.

The federal parliamentary system composes committees nominating a portion of member from Raja

Sabha. Each Standing Committee consisted of not more than 45 members 30 to be nominated by

the Speaker from amongst the members of Lok Sabha and 15 to be nominated by the Chairman,

Rajya Sabha. Now the new amendment as 2004, Standing Committee consisted of not more than31,

who are 21 from Loak Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. Rule of Proceeding of Parliament 253 to

331 rules are on Committee framework of Indian Parliament. Any bill at first discussed at house

ant to motion to move in selected committee or joint committee. Committee study the bill clause by

clause to study the bill and finally the committee prepare a report on the bill to house to pass. No

minister of any minister could be a member even chairman of the respected committee. The code

of ROP as the code of Bangladesh ROP. But by nature, it is more different from Bangladesh

committee system.

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2.6. Summary of the chapter:

Observing the different parliamentary committees and their activities, we may point out the below

functions:

a) Legislative oversight: In present democratic parliament, legislature depends more in its

committee to reduce its work load. Legislature seeks examination ins and outs of a bill thus

there would not be any question for. And Committees do their duties to security any bill and

recommend if there is any inconsistency or matter of public will or socio-political aspects.

As a result, legislature does not enjoy dictator passing a bill.

b) Executive Oversight: Committees of different ministry examines any bill drafts by a

ministry. The ministerial standing committee examines the bill if there is any inconsistency

or any correction or any amendment. Ministry is bound to give its update report to

committee. On a report, committee justifies estimate and achievement. If there is any

deviation, committee produces a report against the committee and present in parliament.

c) Financial Oversight: Any financial Estimate, Expenditure of ministry, executive or any high

officials of executive, committee audits and monitors the financial plans. Committee

examines estimate vs actual achievement. If committee finds any inconsistency, committee

produces a report and present in house session.

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Chapter: 03

History of parliament structure of Bangladesh

Today’s Bangladesh has long journey and history. And institutional development of politics belongs

from ancient time. To show the parliamentary structure in terms of justifying committee system, I

mentioned it with different stages and regimes of rulers.

3.1. Sabha -Samiti and Panchayats: Tradition of Representative Institutions:

Historians and indigenous ancient literature show that democracy was well in place in India long

before the British came. In the Hindu ruler regimes, there was a political system as city-sate

embodied a few villages ruled by a king titled (Rajan). The Rajan was chosen by people and

governed with their consent and approval. There were two assemblies formed by the king named

as Sabha and Samiti. The two assemblies suggested and helped the king with advices and corrective

measures. Not only that the two bodies were examines the rules of the king whether it was for

welfare in favor of dominances. The Sabha and Samiti were differentiated from each other in their

status and functions. Though the two components of king as auxiliary govern but they had separate

aspect of activity. Samiti deserves as general assembly where people could have access in particular

terms besides Sabha was the selected body of King from the elder representative of Samity. Samity

were selected their king. The two houses had not right to posse a law and rule as because all text of

rule and law were sacred or secular. The two wings of king were prided twin ‘daughters’. The

historian predicted that it the ancient political systems was more democratic in practices and

contained rudiments of a modern parliament.

In regime of Muslim rule, the Samiti and Sabha were destroyed and established Sultanates in

Mughal period. The ruler appointed ministers or councilors to assist him and to carry out his

commands. The body of councilors was not popular by people. In village level, Panchayat system

was constituted who was the face of Sultans or King. Panchayat had an elected head man who had

social responsibility to collect tax or revenue for government. The panchayat system gradually

replaced in Union Board in British rule.

3.2. Parliamentary Structures: British Colonial Period (1854-1947):

There were representative institutions in ancient India at various levels. After impunity by British

in India subcontinent, there was not representation of Indians in parliamentary system till 1853.

When Indian got imperialism, western politics understood, different political turmoil on the banner

of privileging citizen rights, British ruler studied the concept or motive of politics, they develop a

new parliamentary system consisted Indian. Different constitutional reform and amendment. These

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are Act of Charter 1853, Indian Council act of 1861, Indian Council Act 1892, The Legislative

Council Act, Indian Providence Act 1919 and Indian Government Act 1935. The transaction of

legislative institution and constitutional development of British India had different perspective.

Charter 1853 power delegation from Est India Company to Crown, a separate governor for Bangle,

Separation Executive council to legislation in provincial government. In 1861, Indian Council Act

only reformation of executive, legislative and providence administrative reformation and no other

act and administrative reformation has a proper portion of Indian’s participation in law making

process. But in 1919 Indian Government Act delegated with proper participation of Indians and

legislative committee system was properly fictional structured. Before 1920, the working

committee was categorized into the Committee of Whole House, The Select Committees and The

Petition Committee. In new act, the Whole House Committee was abolished and reformed as

departmental Standing Committees and Public Account Committee. Till 1937, the committees were

selective. A new legislation, and its committees were elected by procedure and the system was

forging in the independence of India and Separation in two countries.

3.3. Committees in the Bengal Legislative Assembly:

The growth of committee system in the Bengal legislature may be traced with the establishment of

the legislative assemblies in the provinces. The committees, which functioned in the Bengal

Legislative Assembly, could be divided into four types: Committee of the Whole House, Select

Committee, Finance Committee and Public Accounts Committee. The Bengal Legislative

Assembly often turned into Committee of the Whole House. Following the British parliamentary

practice, House itself resolved into a committee with all members of the Assembly to review

important bill or particular parts of legislation without observing the formalities required by the

Rules of Procedure. It was a different manner of sitting of the Assembly.

3.4. Committees in the East Pakistan Legislature (1947-71):

After gaining separation from India, East Pakistan constituted the first Legislative Assembly under

the Indian Act of 1935. The assembly was continued till 1954. After constitutional election, the

second assembly was constituted 1954 and prolonged 1958 before the military cop the power. A

rule committee was first constituted in 1956 but it did not make its proper function. In the Est

Pakistan assembly, there were two types of committees: the standing committees and the ad hoc

select committees. The select committees were either selected by the Speaker or elected by the

House. The Select committees scrutinized a particular bill as referred to them by the plenary. The

plenary Committees were ad hoc in nature as their terms of reference were limited to examine and

report on the referred bill from selected committee. The Minister in charge of the concerned

department was in chair. At this stage, bill was discussed in depth and asked experts and

representatives view and opinion on bill. But there were very negligible approaches; most of the

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bill did not sent to the selected committee. The ad hoc committee directly send the bill to the

assembly and passed the bill even they did not call for regular meeting. Only Public Account

Committee was in function and regularize its meeting and prepared report.

3.5. Parliamentary Structure in Independent Bangladesh:

Bangladesh has a history of independence since 1757. Different political, social and economic

turmoil had in account of liberation which stood in ground in 1971. Different political conspiracy

destroyed political will of Bangle. The major convent of conspiracy was in the rule of Pakistan

when they abolished Constitutional Assembly with coping Military rule titled Martial law and

Bangle got new identification as Est Pakistan. In 1971, the Bangle earns the independence. After

independence, a new constitution was constituted in 1972 and the legislative parliamentary power

named ‘Jatiyo Sangshad’. The prime Minister and the cabinet will be responsible to parliament and

the President was made ceremonial head. The new constitution was build gathering knowledge from

different countries constitution and placed parliamentary sanding committee in Article 76. A rule

of parliament was also constituted and there mentioned the framework of the committees.

According to the first ROP JS had to set up seven standing committee and the new ROP provided

for four more standing committees. The parliament constituted eleven standing committees were;

three financial, two investigative, six domestic committees. But the standing committees could not

ensure its supremacy over the executive due to overwhelming majority of the power party and there

had refusal of opposition representative in committee. Though that, the parliamentary system

possessed one party presidential model. The scenario got quick change. After the ancient black

night 1975, the Bangladesh again vested its power in military intervention and the military regime

at a stack till 1990 directly or indirectly. The parliament Committee system again broken down.

Political scientists predict that the military regime on hold the country in favor of traditional colonial

politics. The root of colonial mentality of military had an inject flow from British-India Army and

in Pakistan Martial law army plantation. When army conquered in power, they kept themselves

away from public or mass people. It senses as anti-governmental, anti-national and anti-political.

The army ruler believed that they could operate and direct the executive functionally. But it did not

spring to the people. After math, the regime of military destroyed by political suggestion by general

people. Till 1990, the politicization of Bangladesh and doing nationalization hampered much and

the development of the country remain backwards. After the fall of authoritarian regime, the

parliamentary system of government was reintroduced in 1991. From than the parliamentary

committee system is in function and democratization is onward.

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Chapter: 04

Parliamentary system of Bangladesh Jatiyo Sangshad

4.1. Introduction:

The present chapter attempts to analyze the legal basis, institutional capacity and working procedure

of the committees in the Bangladesh parliament. In doing so, the first section analyzes the formal-

legal arrangements from the viewpoint of institutional power, the second and the third sections

discuss committee structure and procedure respectively. By analyzing the relationship between

committees and political parties the fourth section seeks to answer how the parties control their

committee members.

4.2. Formal-Legal Framework

Committee system of parliament is a nucleus body serving both legislation and parliamentary

oversight of the government. It is a most popular practice in parliamentary government of the world.

Bangladesh has a parliamentary committee system that ensures accountability of the executive and

to filter the legislative proposals before enactment into law.

4.2.1. Constitution:

Bangladesh parliament ‘Jatiyo Sangshad’ has its committee system which has constitutional

strength. Article 76 of the Bangladesh Constitution, Part ‘V’, The Legislature, Chapter-I,

Parliament, ‘Standing committees of Parliament’ clearly defines about parliamentary standing

committees. The constitution makes its bindings to set-up-

i) Public accounts committee;

ii) committee of privileges; and

iii) Such other standing committees as the rules of procedure of Parliament require

The article 76 refers as Legislative committees. 76 (1) “Parliament shall appoint from among its

members the following standing committees”. 76(2) gives opportunity to the house to form such

other standing committees if the house think what is saying 76(1) (C), subject to other law. 76(2)

(a-d) is the basic framework about responsibility of Committees. Committees could examine draft

Bills and other legislative proposals; They could review the enforcement of laws and propose

measures for such enforcement; in relation to any matter referred to it by Parliament as a matter of

public importance, investigate or inquire into the activities or administration of a Ministry and may

require it to furnish, through an authorized representative, relevant information and to answer

questions, orally or in writing and will bound to perform any other function assigned to it by

Parliament. 76(3) dedicates special power to the committee to enforcing the attendance of witnesses

and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise; and compelling the production of

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documents. According the constitutional structure, Rule of Procedure defines specifically the

framework of committees.

4.2.2. Rule of Procedure:

The Rules of Procedure of Parliament of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Chapter ‘XXVII’,

“Rules Regulating Committees” from 187 to 266 rules are the functional structure of committee

systems. The Constitution of Bangladesh composes basic structure of committee system.

Committee definition, Appointment of Committee, discharge, composition, duties and

responsibilities, quorum, powers, different committees, their definition, responsibility and tenure,

chairman, evidence and oath etc. a clear guidance are given in ROP. The Rules of Procedure not

only the rule of committee but also operating rule of Jatiyo Sangshad of Bangladesh. The

characteristics of ROP of Bangladesh Parliament, we may categories:

i) Written: All rules are clearly defined and written.

ii) Chapter by chapter define: All working area of Parliament are defining chapter by chapter and

easy to understand.

iii) Amendable: The ROP is amendable. It was last amended in 2007.

iv) Essential rule: ROP is an essential literature of Parliament.

v) Linguistic standard: The language of ROP is stander, no clumsy word to read.

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4.3. At a glance of Committees of ROP: (Table: 01)

Sl No. of

rule

Name of

Committee

Key

Responsibility

Nominated

by Members Chairman Note.

1 B (219-

221)

Business Advisory

Committee (BAC)

Government and

other private bill

resolution time

frame

Speaker

nominated

Not more

than 15

Speaker as

Ex-Officio

To discuss stage by stage in bill, how

much time allocation will be considered,

the committee will allocate. The bill will

be referred by Speaker of house.

2 C (222-

224)

Private Member

Bill and

Resolution

(PMBR)

Examine Private

Bill’s impotency

Parliament Not more

than 10

Nominate

from

Members

The bill which will be present in house

by an MP or opposition party that bill

will be considered whether it is realistic,

imported, potential or any circumstances

by grading A or B categories.

3 D (225-

230)

Selected

Committee on Bill

(SCB)

Examine any

recommended bill

by house

Parliament Not more

than 10

Nominate

from

Members

For any bill need to more investigate line

by line or couched, the house will be

select such committees. The committee

plays important role to furnished a bill

and placed in assemble.

4 E (231-

232)

Petition

Committee (PC)

Examine any

petition on a bill

Speaker

nominated

Not less

than 10

Speaker as

Ex-Officio

The Committee examines any petition by

house referred to the committee. If the

bill complies with the rule, then it present

in house or if not thereof speaker

suggests for remedial of the incorporates

5 F (233-

234)

Standing

Committee on

Public Account

(SCPA)

Examine public

expenditure

annually

Parliament Not move

than 15

Nominate

from

Members

1. The committee examines the

expenditure and annual finance of the

house which was granted by the house.

2. scrutinizing the Appropriation

Accounts of the Government and the

report of the Comptroller and Auditor-

General thereon

3. Examines money that shows in the

account for the purpose of legally project

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Sl No. of

rule

Name of

Committee

Key

Responsibility

Nominated

by Members Chairman Note.

the service or purposes the expenditure

the authority which governs

4. examine any autonomous or state

corporation scheme, its trading, earning,

expenditure or balance account or any

directed by speaker.

5. Any other state owned financial

transection if the house askes.

6 G (235-

237)

Committee on

Estimate (CE)

Examine estimate

projected by

government

Parliament Not less

than 10

Nominate

from

Members

The committee time to time examines

economic improvement, efficiency,

administrative reform, alternative polices

to bring efficiency economic

administration or the what money laid

out within the polices and prepare report.

7 H (238-

239)

Committee of

Public Undertake

(PUC)

Examine

Different

Administrative

expenditure

Parliament Not less

than 10

Nominate

from

Members

The committee examines annual

expenditures as per projected or

estimated of the department of Govt. as

Schedule IV of the constitution says and

recommends for further proper utilization

of expenditure.

8 I (240-

243)

Standing

Committee of

Privileges (SCP)

Examine any

question to check

the privileges

were miss guided

Parliament Not less

than 10

Speaker as

Ex-Officio

The Committee shall examine every

question referred to it and determine with

reference to the facts of each case

whether a breach of privilege is involved

and, if so, the nature of the breach, the

circumstances leading to it and make

such recommendations as it may deem fit

9 J (244-

245)

Committee on

Government

Assurance (CGA)

Examine the

sentences or

commitment of

Parliament Not less

than 10

Nominate

from

Members

The committee examines any assurances,

promises,

undertakings, etc. present in house by a

minister, have implemented in time to

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Sl No. of

rule

Name of

Committee

Key

Responsibility

Nominated

by Members Chairman Note.

minister pointed

in house

necessary purposes in anywhere or not

implemented.

10 K (246-

248)

Standing

Committee on

Certain Other

Subject

Examine any

sectoral draft bill

by ministry

Parliament Not less

than 10

Nominate

from

Members

Any draft bill of any sectoral by ministry

would be examine its necessity and

efficiency or any, the standing committee

will examine in depth.

11 L (249-

256)

House Committee

(HC)

Resolve

accommodation

related question

Speaker

nominated

More

than 12

Speaker as

Ex-Officio

Deals with all question relating to

residential accommodation for member

of parliament and entire supervision of

food, medical, aid. Other animates of the

house members. The sub committees

under the committee shall do such kind

of job as the House committee

recommend.

12 M (257-

262)

Library Committee

(LC)

Full Utilization of

Library services

Speaker

nominated

Not more

than 9

Deputy

Speaker as

Ex-Officio

Assist members of Parliament in fully

utilizing the services provided by the

Library.

13 N (263-

265)

Standing

Committee on

Rule of Procedure

(CROP)

To consider any

rule of procedure

to operate

parliament or

thereof any

amendment

Parliament Not less

than 12

Speaker as

Ex-Officio

The Committee will examine the

procedures and conduct of business in the

House and to recommend any

amendments of ROP, addition or

alteration or repeal.

14 O (266) Special Committee

(SC)

ad hoc committee Parliament Not

specified

Nominate

from

Members

Special committee will be formed if

house think for special purposes.

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The above table shows the committees of ROP. Now, classified discussion of the committees.

According to the ROP we found two kinds of Committees or the committees are divided in two kinds

by nature.

4.3.1. Non-Ministerial Standing Committee (NMSC):

The committees which are formatted for the whole electoral period of the parliament for five

distinct purposes like:

i) House Keeping

ii) Services

iii) Scrutiny

iv) Security Investigative

v) Financial

The committees are also five in categories. These are

a) House Keeping Committees: The committee is divided into three different committees

1. The Business Advisory Committee

2. The Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions

3. The Committee on Rules of Procedure

b) The House committee and the Library. The Committees are into the category of service

committees.

c) The Committee on Government Assurances is in nature a scrutinizing committee.

d) The Committee on Privilege and the Committee on Petitions are investigative

committees.

e) The Committee on Estimates, the Committee on Public Accounts and the Committee on

Public Undertakings fall into the category of financial committees.

a) Business Advisory Committee (BAC)

The Business Advisory Committee consists 15 members, the Speaker as ex-officio chairperson, and

chairman appoint the members whom are the leader of the House, the opposition leader, the deputy

speaker and the chief whip. According the ROP we may say the committee importance is to conduct

internal affairs of JS. Under the Rules of Procedure, the Committee on Private Members' Bills and

Resolutions is responsible to examine every Bill seeking amendment of the Constitution for which a

notice is given by a private member. All private members' Bills are referred to this committee to

classify them according to their nature, urgency and importance. The committee recommends the

time that should be allocated for discussion of each private member’s Bill and indicates in the

timetable different hours at which various stages of the Bill in a day shall be completed. Observing

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the functions of the Committee on Rules of Procedure of the JS are very much similar to those of the

Committee for Scrutiny of Elections, Immunity and the Rules of Procedure of the German Bundestag.

b) The House Committee:

The House committee and the Library committee are service committees in nature. The House

committee is appointed to deal with all questions related to residential accommodation for the

members of the Parliament while the Library committee considers and advises on such matters

concerning the Library. These two committees assist the members in utilizing fully the services

provided by the MP Hostel and the Library. The speaker of parliament is the ex-officio chairman.

c) The Committee on Government Assurances:

According to the Rules of Procedure, the committee scrutinizes assurances, promises, undertakings,

etc. given by a Minister, from time to time, on the floor of the House and reports on whether such

assurances, promises, undertakings, etc. have been implemented or not. The chairman would be

nominated from house.

d) The Committee on Petitions and the Committee on Privileges:

The speaker is the ex-officio chairman of the both committee which are investigative committees in

nature. The committees hold investigative power, and according to ROP examine very petition

referred to it and can suggest remedial measures if there any inconsistencies. The Petition Committee

ensures investigation of cases of irregularities of the government departments or misconduct of

individual politicians or government officials. Rule 240 of the ROP the Committee on Privileges is

set up to examine every question referred to it and to determine with reference to the facts of each

case whether a breach of privilege is involved and if this committee finds out the nature of the breach,

circumstances leading to it than it can make such recommendations as it may deem fit.

e) The Financial Committee:

The Jatiyo Sangshad introduces three financial committees:

i) The Committee on Public Accounts (PAC):

The PAC closely scrutinizes the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General and

fortifies the Principal Accounting Officers against the temptation of financial

irregularities. The PAC expresses its opinion thereon and records its findings and

recommendations.

ii) The Committee on Estimates (EC):

The EC can examine any expenditure and make suggestions about achieving efficiency

in administration. This committee can examine entire administration of the Government,

including financial, administrative.

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iii) The Committee on Public Undertaking (PUC):

Among the three financial committees, the PUC is responsible to examine the reports and

accounts of the public-sector organizations specified in the Schedule IV of the Rules of

Procedure. PUC can also examine any deficiency of the public undertakings, whether the

affairs of the public undertakings are being managed in accordance with sound business

principles and prudent commercial practices. But PUC could not examine or investigate

major Government policy as distinct from business or commercial functions of public

undertakings, and day-to-day administration. This committee cannot examine matters for

the consideration of which any machinery is stablished by any special statute under which

a particular public undertaking is established.

The three Financial committees are considered as the most powerful and important committee for

sanctioning, scrutinizing and monitoring of public expenditure. By the Constitutional Article 76 (1)

(a), The Public Account Committee is mandatory. The three committee also examine the financial

budget provisions during budget preparation by the parliament. It is recommended that Parliament of

Bangladesh could develop a budget review committee separately.

4.3.2. Ministerial Standing Committees (MSC):

Ministerial Standing Committees are important shapes of the rolling party and their ruling. This is

why, the committees play important role. This model was devoted in JS following U.S. congress.

The committees are responsible for scrutinizing the legislative bills before consideration in the House

and overseeing the activities of the respective ministry. The Leader of house will take decision to

form committees, as many thinks that many committee will be formed by, noninitiated from the

members of the house, not appointing more committees a member and no minister will be a chairman

or member in this committee but the minister could attend in the meeting if wish by taking permission

of the chairman of the committee, condition applies only could discuss on a bill but not cast vote.

The number of the departmental standing committees depends on the size of the government ministry.

So, any change of the ministry brings change in the number of the committees. The present 10th

parliament has 45 standing committee

a) Ad hoc Committees:

Ad hoc Committee is not a permanent function forming by the standing committee if feels the need

to scrutiny any bill or to exclusive observe of a bill referred form the house. While standing,

committees carry the main burden of the parliament, some special and select committees are also

formed to deal with particular matters. The Bangladesh JS traditionally sets up two types of ad hoc

committees:

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i) The Select Committee on a Bill:

The Select Committee is traditionally established to examine a bill if the member-in-charge

of the Bill referred it to such a committee rather than a standing committee.

ii) Special Committees:

ROP 266 says the parliament may, by notion, appoint a Special Committee, which shall have

such composition and function as may be specified in the motion.

b) Sub Committees:

The committees of parliament could form sub committees as many, each having undivided power, to

examine any bill referred and producing report of such committee report will be the report of whole

team. Therein refers that the committees will sit together to point by point discuss a bill.

4.4. Composition of Committee

a) Members:

All the members of each committees will be the member as qualified by ROP of the legislature, only

Leader of House will be the member as ex office of the committee of Business Advisory and other as

said ROP. The number of different committees are shown in the Table-01.

b) Chairman:

All NMSC chairman will be the Speaker and Deputy Speaker as Ex Officio

Speaker: Business Advisory Committee, Petition Committee, Standing Committee of

Privileges, House Committee and Committee of Rule of Procedure.

Deputy Speaker: Library Committee.

All MSC chairmen will nominated from house, for any instance a member of a committee will be act

as chairman selected by the committee or as said by chairman. For any cause, Chairman may write

own hand application honor to the Speaker, would be vacant. The leader of house will nominate a

new chairman form house. Minister of a department of any could not be a member, nor the chairman

of the committee, if therein a member will be select minister, the position of member or chairman

will be vacant from the instance

4.5. Tenure of Committee:

A committee formatted by the parliament will be in office till the parliament in an electoral period.

4.6. Sitting of Committee:

The Committee Meeting will be held on the same day at same hour as the chairman of the committee

will fix. Sitting of the committees will be private. The quorum of sitting may be as much nearer

member of one third of total member. The sitting shall be in the selected place inside of the

parliament. Sitting may be possible, speaker of the house will give permission prior. If any reasons,

unavailability of the chairman, parliament secretary ex-officio will be call for sitting.

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4.7. Report of Committee:

report will be present in parliament, the bill or any which was referred to it within one month if

parliament not fixed time should follow the said rule of ROP. The chairman would present the report

or if he is not able to than a member will present the report in house with under signature. Till the

report is not present in parliament, the report will consider as a confidential matter by the committee

to maintain.

a) Special Report: A committee may present a special report if the committee think, the matter

which is light of the course of a work considering necessity, to bring the house

4.8. Speaker’s decision regarding committee affairs:

If any doubts arise, the chairman would bring it to notice to speaker, the decision of Speaker will be

considered the final.

4.9. Committee Procedure:

Committee procedure is also important factor of committee system. First, we have to discuss about

the way to forming the committee and its members.

4.10. Committee: The Majority party will perform the leading party of legislature and the leader of

the house, as said the constitution the chairman of elected party, will take decision to which member

will be member for which committee and also the chairman. But, it would not be over the third session

from the new parliament.

4.11. Members: There is no specific indication in ROP that who will be the member of the

committee. Basically, the rolling party forms the committee and members come from the party. As

because, the rolling party seeks electoral dignity to perform. In JS rolling party system is mostly

developed though the other parliamentary party especially the opposite major party will have member

in committee. But, in committee history of Bangladesh JS has not such example. In Indian parliament

and ROP of the parliament guides the duo party member system. The Majority party thinks political

dignity and corporations into its business, therefore, the party nominate the senior members of

parliament as member. Whip of the parliament will take nominate name of the parties and the list of

name will send to the chief whip. Chief whip will negotiate with other parliamentary party to provide

members in committee in concern of the leader of the house. After confirmation of the members,

chief Whip will present the name of member and name of committee in house to take approval from

the house. The parties nominate the members considering political experience, willing and also

comprising political constituent area of the country. Majority party system membership of

committees is harmful of democratic system. A few cases are seen where opposition parliamentary

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party has representative in committee and though major party askes for member from opposition,

there arises chaos. Speaker of the parliament stands in there and ordered to solve the problem and

may have opposition member in committee. Now a-days it is seen that a seat for opposition remain

vacant, whenever the opposition party think to provide representative, it could fill up.

4.12. Chairman of Committee:

ROP of parliament of Bangladesh only says the qualification of chairman, tenure and power of the

chairman but there is no indication about who will be the chairman. This is why majority party of the

parliament holds the chair. Opposition parliamentary party member could not place in chair only one

case is seen till today in JS committee. But, in other democratic country, a proportion of chairman of

committee will come from other parliamentary party. As a result, democratic practices are in wrong

from the central house of Bangladesh.

4.13. Main Functions of Committee:

The major functions of the committees are:

Examine draft bill or other legislative functions if referred from house

Review works of related ministry

Inquiry into any activity, irregularities or major complains of respective ministry

Examine any matter of its jurisdiction

Review the enforcement of laws and propose measures of such enforcement.

Enforcing attendance of witnesses and examine them an oath, affirmation or otherwise

Compelling the production of documents

4.14. Administrative Structure and Services to Committee system:

The parliamentary secretariat of Bangladesh plays significant role to function committee system. The

secretariat follows all rules and procedures of administration and guides the nominated or elected

parliaments members. The administration has appointed employees, a secretary of the parliament

posted in head and other staff. The secretary will be the ex-officio secretary of committee. There is

other supporting staff who serves in the cabinet, house and other ministry and also in the committees.

The chairman of committee could appoint a support staff for his office who would be from his choice.

The activities of the parliamentary secretariat-

The bill which is passed by the parliament that makes gazette

Formally attend in meeting when speaker is the chairman of a committee

Notice prepare and circulation to respective committee members or to them as suggested by

the committee

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Meeting house ready for sitting and circulate meeting notice to the committee members

If a standing committee does not sit in meeting, if speaker asked to call a meeting than the

secretary call for meeting of the ministerial committee.

Supports the committee members with rule or procedure as because the members of the

committee come from parliament who have not pre-knowledge about

Develops report suggested a bill or any by committee to present in the house

Summon a person if the committee required through speaker of the parliament

Manage records and documentation

Attend other meeting as suggested by the chairman of committee

4.15. Political Parties:

It is very important to discuss practices of political parties of Bangladesh. The behavior of the party

system will contribute in parliamentary party. Very seen major political parties of Bangladesh who

have experiences to build parliament, their practices are not democratic by nature. Each political

party has their own constitution. According their constitution, president/ chairman, General Secretary

or other important position of the parities will be elect by national council of the parties. Bangladesh

Nationalist Party (BNP) president will be elected by a fair electing system through a national council.

But, after death of President Major Ziaur Rahman, Begum Khalada Zia became the chief President

1983 and letter 1984 became president of the parity. After a long math, no council had of the party

and the president position remain to her hand. Other hand, Bangladesh Awami League (AL) regularly

sits for council but the position of the chairman remains Sekh Hashina as because no one could

compete with her from the parries’ presidium members. But, the AL constitution has clear code to

elect a chairman from party members. Jatiya Party one of the major party which has also a

constitution but no member will enjoy any right to select their party chairman, rather president holds

power to choose a member or exclude a member from party. The feature of the parities show that the

chairman of the parties enjoys an autocratic authority and power inside party. The high bench of the

parties is controlled by the party chief and nobody could go against the decision of the leader. The

major decisions come from the leader. In election process for national parliamentary election, the

party men possess lobbing with the high commanding channel of the party to get nomination for

constituency MP poll. The parties have an electoral mechanism for performing election where the

bench will get decision headed by the party leader. But, the law code of the party has not fictional

application, where money become the matter of nomination. And the chair takes final decision. Then

the body arises as the approval authority. The parties code that, if any of the member of the party

could debate the decision of the chief sentence then he/ she will be excluded from party. So, the

sovereignty of the party chief breaks down the democratic system and they become knowledge about

autocracy. The nature of pure politician become violet. Very seen that, a businessman become MP

36 | P a g e

or gets nomination for poll for a big amount of donation to the party or a high government service

holder who has just got retried form job gets a political mended and the political violence and political

merit goes into loo and so on miss politicization of the parties is the great curse for national will.

Such mal practices are seen in parliament. When a party becomes government party, the chairman of

the party holds all disciplinary power and authority. He/she choices the party men for parliamentary

role. The chief knows about skills and knowledges and other potentialities about his/her men and he

appoint them in different parliamentary responsibilities. The front bench of legislature is the major

decision maker of the government, the members also selected by the parliament house leader.

Accordingly, the members of the parliamentary committees are selected by him/ her. The party’s

constitution clears that nobody could deny the selection by the chairman, when she/ he proposes

responsibility and duty to the party man and if that, the chairman of the party will take final decision

about the member. Such examples are cited in Jatiyo Sangshad. The whip and chief whip plays

deputy role of the leader. He/ she does as the leader placed the nomination of the members.

Bangladesh constitution article 70 (1) (b) gives clear authority to disqualify a member if he restraint

from giving vote favor the party that means no men could go against the party decision. Therofe,

party members do not share their views freely. So, parliamentary party system suffers much. Party

leader highly positively for party’s political manifesto, committeemen & will and mostly checks

senior of the party men to distributes the positions. As a result, proper educated person is un available

in parliament. The president of Bangladesh recently argues and predict that a low portion of law

makers are from law background. It should be increased for future betterment of Bangladesh.

Above discussion revealed that political parties in Bangladesh though provided democratic principles

in their constitutions regarding the selection of party leadership, these are not practice properly. Top

brass party leaders were either appointed or nominated by the party chiefs from their trusted ministers

and members of the parliament. Similarly, parliamentary positions were distributed to the trusted and

loyal members. The analysis presented above shows that personal choice, loyalty and satisfaction of

the party chief played important role in making appointments of committee members and

chairpersons and the committee members were tightly controlled by their party chiefs personally

rather than institutional norms. Therefore, in and outside the parliament committee members could

hardly say anything about party policy.

4.16. Summary of the chapter

Committee system of parliament is a major political practice in democratic environment. It seems as

a second strong and decent house of a parliament. The business of the committees works for public

will and the major decision for nation. It is the second policy making house which is combination of

representative of the people. Legislation is the main house of parliament where public and private

37 | P a g e

bill comes in discussion and in agenda. A common discussion and introduction happens in law

making house. But the bill askes very inside investigation and study to make it for the will of people.

It belongs with political commitment of political parties. The committees look into a bill technically

and make a recommendation if there is needed reframe of the bill. In committee, there would be

power party and opposition party member. This is a great dimension of parliament and democracy.

But, In Bangladesh parliament acts not such bright way. A very few cases are seen the composition

of opposition parties get membership in committee. In ROP and also in constitution, there are no

clear rule of committee composition. Another fact is that, all member of committee come from

parliamentary party. The members are also nominated by the leader of legislature. As a result, the

will of the leader turns the will of the committee member. No member could raise or make a question

of any bill or could go against. Article 70 of the constitution of Bangladesh says that if a member of

parliament vote against the will of parliamentary party, the member may exclude from party if the

leader thinks so. Such constitutional code application is in past history of Jatiyo Sangshad. The

committee system of Bangladesh is similar to French Parliamentary Committee system. Financial

expenditure, executive projection and expenditure review and recommendation are also

responsibility of committee. Any sectoral bill gets clause by clause study by ministerial committee.

38 | P a g e

Chapter: 05

Overview of 8th and 9th parliamentary sanding committee

5.1. Introduction:

The 8th parliament was completed its five-year tenure from 2001 to 2006. The parliamentary party

formed 37 standing committee and 11 select committee. Total 48 parliamentary committees were in

8th parliament. But in 9th parliament there are 53 parliamentary committees in the tenure of 2009 to

2013. The committees were formed as per ROP of JS. In 9th parliament there was 40 Ministerial

Standing Committee, 11 Selected Committee, 1 Special Committee for Constitutional Amendment

which was abolished. There were 183 Sub Committees. In 8th parliament only 5 committees were

formed in first session of house but in 9th parliament all committee were formed. Below table shows

the committees:

5.2. 9th Parliamentary Committee: (Table-02)

Sl Name of Committees Member as

per ROP

#of Committee # of Sub Committees

8th

parliament

9th

parliament

8th

parliament

9th

parliament

1 Business Advisory Committee

(BAC) 15 1 1 0 0

2 Private Member Bill and

Resolution (PMBR) 10 1 0 0 0

3 Selected Committee on Bill

(SCB) 10 1 1 0 0

4 Petition Committee (PC) 10 1 1 0 0

5 Standing Committee on Public

Account (SCPA) 15 1 1 0 0

6 Committee on Estimate (CE) 10 1 1 0 0

7 Committee of Public Undertake

(PUC) 10 1 1 0 0

8 Standing Committee of

Privileges (SCP) 10 1 1 0 0

9 Committee on Government

Assurance (CGA) 10 1 1 0 0

10 Standing Committee on Certain

Other Subject 10 1 1 0 0

11 House Committee (HC) 12 1 1 1 0

12 Library Committee (LC) 9 1 1 0 0

13 Ministerial Standing Committee 10 1 1 3 15

14 Agriculture 10 1 1 3 5

15 Civil Aviation 10 1 1 7 4

16 Commerce 10 1 1 7 3

17 Communication 10 1 1 5 8

18 Culture 10 1 1 5 4

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Sl Name of Committees Member as

per ROP

#of Committee # of Sub Committees

8th

parliament

9th

parliament

8th

parliament

9th

parliament

19 Defense 10 1 1 4 0

20 Education 10 1 1 0 12

21 Environment & Forestry 10 1 1 1 4

22 Establishment 10 1 1 9 3

23 Expatriate Welfare 10 1 1 2 5

24 Finance 10 1 1 1 1

25 Fisheries & Livestock 10 1 1 0 5

26 Food 10 1 1 2 0

27 Flood & Disaster Management 10 0 1 0 2

28 Foreign Affairs 10 1 1 0 0

29 Health 10 1 1 1 8

30 Home 10 1 1 5 3

31 Housing & Works 10 1 1 2 9

32 Hill Track 10 0 1 0 0

33 Information 10 1 1 4 3

34 Industry 10 1 1 1 6

35 Labor and Manpower 10 1 1 7 5

36 Land 10 1 1 1 6

37 Legal & Parliamentary Affairs 10 1 1 4 5

38 Liberation War 10 0 1 0 5

39 LGRD 10 1 1 2 4

40 Planning 10 1 1 2 1

41 Primary & Mass education 10 1 1 0 2

42 Post & Telecommunication 10 1 1 1 5

43 Power & Energy 10 1 1 6 6

44 Religious Affairs 10 1 1 5 3

45 Rail 10 0 1 0 1

46 Science & ICT 10 1 1 1 5

47 Shipping 10 1 1 1 11

48 Social Welfare 10 1 1 2 3

49 Textile & Jute 10 1 1 2 5

50 Water Resource 10 1 1 2 4

51 Women & Children 10 1 1 4 5

52 Youth & Sports 10 1 1 3 7

53 Food and Disaster Management

(Abolished) 10 0 1 0 0

54

Special Committee on

Constitution amendment

(Abolished)

10 0 1 0 0

Total 541 48 53 106 183

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5.3. Professional background of committee background:

Professional background is a remarkable fact of committee members. Because most of the politician

of Bangladesh comes from different profession and try to build their interest within govt. He/s does

not get ministry than 2nd policy making way is Committee. Mostly business or industrial merchant

inherited in politics and elected parliamentary member. Rather social composition of member of

parliament also a challenge in parliamentary system. In seventh parliament, there were 48%

Businessmen & Industrialists in committee, 8th parliament 58% and in 9th parliament 57%. Law

Maker is 17%, 11% & 14%, Land Lord 7% 4% & 7% and other professional is 7%, 2% & 1%. The

data show that politician’s presence is very few in committees in parliament.

Chart-01.

Observing that in 8th parliament Businessmen & Industrialist were nominated in Ministry of Relief

and Rehabilitations 9 members, Ministry of Commerce 8 and Public Account Committee 8 members.

According above data, it is

5.4. Female participation:

In Indian, Canada, Germany, USA and UK parliamentary committee members have propositional

member whom are women. Gender mainstreaming and equality and equity are major concern in

parliamentary business. In parliament website, there are special page on Empower Women. In

Bangladesh, Parliamentary Committee Member selection, there is not specific ROP act or normative

distribution or nomination of women. In 8th parliament, no women were nominated as committee

member. In 9th parliament 28 women members in 17 committees. Out of six committees, 4 women

were nominated as chairman. It is remarkable that; 3 women chairmen were from main opposition

parliamentary party. Overall 10% female participation in committee in 9th parliament. It is remarkable

48

%

6%

2%

17

%

9%

4% 7

%

7%

58

%

5%

3%

11

%

11

%

7%

4%

2%

57

%

3%

3%

14

%

9%

6% 7%

1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Businessmen&

Industrialists

Former ArmyOfficers

Former CivilServants

Lawyers Doctors, Eng.,Journalists

Politics Landlords Others

% of Members Occupation

7th 8th 9th

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that, in 9th parliament female participation both legislature and ministry were more than 8th, 7th and

5th parliament. Average 59% of women member attendee was in committee meeting.

5.5. Women Participation in 9th Parliament: (Table: 03)

Sl # of Committee # of Member Total

1 3 2 6

2 2 3 6

3 1 5 5

5 11 1 11

Total Committee- 17 Total Member- 28

Table-02

5.6. Committee Business:

In 8th parliament, there were 982 meetings of the committees and 705 sub-committee meetings were

held. In 9th parliament 2043 meetings were held of 53 committees and 650 sub-committee meetings

were held where Public Account Committee had highest sitting 132 times. 13 committees had one

meetings in every month. In 9th parliament 59% of member attendance were ensured in committee

meeting where Primary and Mass Education Committee had highest 92% attendance. A comparative

data presentation is shown of 7th and 8th parliaments Estimate, Public Accounts Committee and Public

Under Taking Committee’s status. According to TIB

Parliamentary Watch Review of 9th parliament, there

were 4935 decision were taken by the committees and

only 1787 decisions were implemented. Highest

achievement earned Library Committee. The committee

had taken 79 decisions and implemented 63 decisions

which is 79.75% and Land ministry had only 1.14%

decisions implemented. No record found 23 committee

by a study of TIB. In 8th parliament, 4 standing

committees taken 925 decisions but had no implementation of the decisions. TIB shows a study that

in 9th parliament Public Accounts Committee had 6740 objections and 4113 objections were

mitigated. Ministry of Housing & Public Works taken 357 decisions and implemented only 38%.

The Committee of Government Assurance implemented 64% statements and Ministers 32%

commitments. The data indicates that sittings of committee taken decisions to implement, but the

respective ministry or department does not implement the decisions accordingly. If there is any

disagree at the decision than the respective minister shall write a petition mentioning the causes of

disagree. But till the 9th parliament even in 10th parliament such records or evidence does not have

the parliament.

74%

26%

(9th Parliament)

Decisions Achieved

(Chart-02)

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5.7. Committee Report:

According to ROP 208, A Committee may, if it thinks fit, make a special report on any matter that

arises or comes to light in the course of its work & the committee Reports may be either preliminary

or final ROP 209(2). The 8th Jatiyo Sangshad Ministerial Standing Committee submitted 34 reports

while 9th JS 45 committees submitted 101 reports. It is very alarming stage of report by the

committee. ROP 208 and 209 clearly define and stated that the committee shall report as a regular

and special. But, most of the committees does not prepare and submit their reports. Considering 8th

and 9th parliament reporting status, it is assumed that the situation is being increase gradually.

5.8. Comparative study

Observing the above data (Table-01 & 02 and Chart-01 & 02) it is observed that, committee system

in JS is not functioning properly. Parliamentary committee was first introduced in 1st parliament of

JS. But after 1975, the JS was not acted as democratic. Military administration destroyed the political

system in Bangladesh and destroyed the parliamentary function also. As a result, politicalizing and

political development is still a crying matter. After 1991, the shape of parliamentary democracy sited

in new shape and committee system were need by constitutionally and for better product by political

parties. Three successful parliament has completed five years’ tenure. The 5th 7th, 8th and 9th

parliaments are milestone of political change. 8th parliament, committee systems were not focused

and activity based as there were non-functioning committees. As per ROP, in first sitting of the

legislature, the committees shall be formed. In 9th parliament, all committees were formed. In 8th

parliament, opposition parliamentary partly member did not involve in committee even chairman. In

9th parliament was a remarkable evidence in advance of democracy. Three opposition party man

chaired in committees and in member. But, in Public Account Committee, Estimate Committee and

other more important committee of government had no opposition committee member even in chair.

It would be more accountable and transparent government. In 7th parliament had one special

committee, 8th parliament had not special committee but in 9th parliament had one special committee.

In 8th parliamentary committee meeting data shows irregular committee meeting, but 9th parliament

was better than 8th parliament. In 9th parliament 60% Ruling party men were present in parliamentary

committee meeting, 3% opposition parliamentary party men and 10% of female attendance which is

poor figure and status of committee performance. There was a common character of committees that,

they could not take and sit with experts, civil society, media or elite to get concern or review any bill.

Even there had not any public opinion taking practices by the parliamentary committees.

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5.9. Comparison with Other Countries

The parliamentary committees are used in a positive manner in developed democracies including the

United Kingdom. In the UK and neighboring India, the members and chairs of committees are

selected in conformity with proportionate representation of different parties in the parliament. The

ministers are not made chairs or members of relevant committees. In both the countries, there is a

timeframe for replying to the recommendations of the committees by concerned divisions/ ministries

and the recommendations are considered with utmost importance. In the UK, the deliberations of

committees are broadcast live. Directives are issued on behalf of ministries in case of summons and

testimonies. The committees can oversee appointments to top levels of the government. Furthermore,

in both countries, committees of concerned departments/ministries are involved in reviewing the

finance bill. Besides, there is a separate committee for evaluating the effectiveness of committees

and for overseeing the activities during the interim period between two governments.

5.10. Criticism:

There is a perception that the committees lack independence from the influence of the major Parties,

and that committee decisions are guided by the party-political allegiances of their members, rather

than objective assessments in the best interests of the community. This comes about from the method

of appointment of committee members, reflecting the relative position of the political parties in the

two houses. In my view, it could mention that legal limitations (jurisdiction, formation, participation,

represent, Conflict of interest in committees, Party influence, Dependent, Accountability) of the

government not ensured. Observing and reading all legal framework and documents of Committee

system, in my view, I found few gaps in SJ Parliamentary Committee structure. Such as-

ROP does not define clearly about member nomination in committee composition from

opposition party.

No any specific rule for women participation in committee

In consistency rule in ROP. Rule 188 (2) says, nominate member of committee whenever

select as minister of any ministry, the member will be excluding form committee and from

chair of committee. ROP 247 gives access the minister in meeting in respect department as a

result the independence of the select committee and its functions being manipulate. Before

1997, the minister was the ex-officio of ministerial committee. Though in 1997, the rule was

amendment technically inclusion of minister in committee mitting, is not justified.

Decisions taken committees are not implemented by the respective ministry or department.

As a result, transparency and accountability of the parliament and government is questionable.

If the ministry or department has any objection on decision to implement, then the respective

ministry or institution would have writing petition to the house speaker. But, such evidences

44 | P a g e

are not found. So, ROP should have specific rule for punishment to dally implementation as

India or Austrian committee system.

Amendment of ROP 1997, required that the annual reports of the CAG be routed to the

president through the Prime Minister’s office. This is likely to have some negative

consequences; in particular, this risks making the CAG vulnerable to pressure and influence

of the executive.

There is relatively little scope for the parliament to exercise control over the planning of

public expenditure; the only committee that can have some impact, the PEC, remains

disadvantaged for a number of reasons. What is needed most is to devise mechanisms to

ensure that the time allocated for deliberating over financial issues is spent in a productive

and meaningful manner.

No access of technical expert, media, civil society, elite in committee meeting or not any

special arrangement taking public opinion for a bill, or publication in parliamentary website

to get public opinion like Austrian parliament. TIB reported in 9th parliament only 10

Committees (Fishery and Livestock, Agriculture, Labor and Manpower, Social Welfare,

Education, Power and energy, Liberation, Law, Legislation and Judiciary, Government

Assurance and Commerce) conducted public hearing.

Improper documentation and data management of parliamentary committee.

Committees page of Parliamentary website is not well achieved with documents and

information.

There is relatively little scope for the parliament to exercise control over the planning of

public expenditure; the only committee that can have some impact, the PEC, remains

disadvantaged for a number of reasons. What is needed most is to devise mechanisms to

ensure that the time allocated for deliberating over financial issues is spent in a productive

and meaningful manner.

Most of the previous committee members are from business man and industrialist. A study

conducted by TIB shows, in 9th parliament 20 committees member had personal interest

(shipping, transport and communication, garments, jut and business). and 10 committee men

had And committee member’s education background is not considered by the parties.

Committee members and activities are influenced and controlled by Parliamentary Party

under the article 70 (b).

5.11. Lesson Learnt and Recommendation

1. The committees must be empowered to enforce the presence of witnesses, submission of

testimonies and documents by enacting law in accordance with Article 76 (3) of the Constitution.

2. The following changes must be brought about by amending the Parliamentary Rules of

Procedure:

45 | P a g e

Provisions should be made for complete verification of information on conflict of interest

during selection of committee members, and for expelling a member from a committee if any

information is obtained on the involvement of his business-interest in the committee after his

inclusion in the committee.

Provision should be made for compulsory updating of information about the business and

financial involvement of committee chairpersons and members each year, which should be

made public.

Committee shall arrange the opportunities for expert, civil society, media or elite in terms

revision of a bill for public or such arrangement to get public opinion.

The post of vice-chairperson must be introduced in the committees.

The chairs in at least 50% of the committees, at least in finance-related committees, must be

appointed from the opposition parties.

Provision should be introduced for appointing chairpersons and members from females in

proportion to their representation in parliament.

The Finance Bill must be referred to the Committee on Estimates for detailed examination.

Committee discussions must be generally broadcast live through Sangsad Television with the

exception of important deliberations on sensitive subjects like national security.

The approval process for condoning absence of members in committee meetings must be

made formal.

The annual calendar of each committee must be published at the start of the year specifying

the dates and times of their activities in each month.

A Liaison committee must be formed for annual evaluation of committees and for

strengthening coordination between all committees.

Actions taken by a ministry in the light of committee recommendations must be notified to

the committee in written within three months of holding a meeting and this should be made

mandatory by provision.

The minutes of committee meetings must be released within two weeks of holding a meeting

and the complete annual report must be published each year in the website of parliament.

Indicator based reporting format for the committees.

Public involvement should be increased in the programs of the committees (public hearings,

appointment of experts, etc.).

Reports containing specific information on discussions and decisions of the previous

meetings based on sufficient data and facts should be prepared and supplied by the committee

section to the chairperson and members for taking preparation before meeting.

Enacting article 77, establishment of the office of Ombudsman.

Amendment ROP 247 (4-6). Minister or Deputy Minister shall present in ministry committee

meeting which is contradiction with ROP 188 (2).

Committee term will be function till the new committee formed. It should be amended of 189

(1), (the Term of office of a Committee shall be valid during the duration of the Parliament)

because, the previous committee will share their experiences to the new committee view

functional business.

There should include the specific rule or sub rule in ROP 202 (1) referring ways to summon.

As because if a committee asked to call in an honorable person like president, prime minister,

chef justice or anyone, the person will not call at the committee quorum or room.

Functioning Petition Committee.

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Nomination of committee member should be considered on experience, political view,

educational background, personal interest, opposition party etc.

Committee should not void by the political will of the parliamentary party.

Urgent measures be taken to ensure that each committee receive at least a minimum level of

facilities such as computer and photocopiers so that the output of whatever minimum staff

support is now available can be maximized

It is recommended that a committee of committees, to be called Liaison Committee, be set up

with the Speaker as the Chairman, and the chairmen of all committees as members, to

coordinate the activities of different committees.

Parliament website of Jatiay Sangsad should be developed with proper documents. Specially

committee page has not enough information of previous committees and also the current

committee meeting schedule, minutes, reports and others.

It is highly recommended that, ROP should be amended and include special portion for

women participation.

Law professional would be more priority to nominate in committee member.

Priority giving on private bill

Committees should be independent; shall not influence of house leader.

A Religious minority, tribal/ ethnic group selected committee should be developed amending

ROP

Support Committee for physically impaired men.

47 | P a g e

Chapter:06

Summary and conclusion

In this globalization world, a comparative parliamentary democracy is widely discussed. The

government of people that is formed through an electoral process sending representative in legislation

to make law and rules by the people or citizen, the important element of a country. The government

forming system is ideally acceptable around the world which is called the government for the people.

Parliament is an institution where the member or people of the house practice or formularize may

decisions and steps through systematic process where the will of citizen inlays. In this scientific

work, I try to discuss about an interesting and essential subject of parliament which is very important

in democratic practice and establishment. Parliamentary Committee is a small house of parliament

which is essential part of legislature. Today’s legislature shall not move an inch without committees.

In this work, finally there is the explanation about performing role of parliamentary committees in a

country where the political institutions, at least partly, have been imposed from outside rather than

being fully indigenous. In the history of Bangladesh parliament, we found marinization had been

started from British India. Then the parliamentary system and its committee system was Westminster

style. After the independence of Pakistan, under colonial regime, Bangladesh faced parliamentary

struggle. After the independence of Bangladesh, the parliamentary system of the government was

introduced to fulfill the aspirations of the people. The Constitution of Bangladesh came to effect on

16 December, 1972. Though the Constitution vested all legislative power to the parliament, officially

named Jatiyo Sangshad, under a Westminster style of democracy, it could not function successfully

in post-liberation period. It is important to note here that successful functioning of parliamentary

democracy depends upon certain conditions, such as consensus among the competitive political

parties, presence of democratic norms and values within the party structure, peaceful transfer of

power and responsibility equally by the government and opposition party. In a sweeping change,

Bangladesh came under the military rule by a bloody coup on August 15, 1975 and remained under

military dominated civil-military regimes until 1990. In the post-colonial states where democracy

was broken down by military intervention, parliaments were either abolished or suspended. Between

1975 and 1990, three parliaments had been formed to civilianize the military regime. Under a

presidential form of government, they had a record of poor performance in holding the government

accountable to the parliament. There was a new beginning since the reintroduction of the

parliamentary system of the government in 1991. And the present parliamentary party compression

is working actively with a democratic mentality though there more criticism by political scientist.

According to the ROP, the committee shall scrutiny legislative proposals and monitoring activities

of the executive departments. Theoretically the committees have no grand authority to propose a bill

or to rewrite a bill, the only allow to move amendments on every proposal. But, very few bills have

48 | P a g e

amended getting committee recommendation. Without scrutinizing by committee, many bills have

passed in house. Most of the bills have disagreement by the opposition parliamentary parties. Present

experiences are, though bills are referred to the committees but, the committees are not getting

enough time to scrutiny the bills and prepare recommendation or report. The main fact is, most of the

committees are formed by leader of house, the chief of parliamentary party, the decision of the party

is the decision of the committee, not to disagree with the proposals made. In developed countries,

legislative compromise takes place in the committees. Again, most of the bills passed in the JS were

government bills. The Private Member’s Bills tabled in the House were dropped at the various level

of legislation process. A large number of bills moved by the private members were dropped at various

level of the legislation process. Following shortcomings are identified regarding the process of

private members bills- the Private Members’ Bills Committee usually took a long time for

scrutinizing the bills; secondly the PMBR committee did not submit its report in due time; thirdly,

the bills those were referred back to the House with a report, were not introduced to the House;

fourthly, most of the members did not have expertise in making a legislative proposal properly.

Decisions taken by the committees are not implemented within parliamentary period. In a view, it is

easily assumed that, there is not strong rules to look into the matters and strong punishment rule

which is a back lodge of parliament that should be minimized by amending and incorporate the rule

of punishment. Not only that, regularize meeting and participant’s attendance also.

To make parliamentary committees functional for creating a strong house of legislature, it should be

amendment in article of constitution and enacted. ROP should be amendment considering previous

recommendations. It is especially recommended that; Private bills should not ignore and will give

proper time to discussion in house and the private committee should take care of the private or

beshorkary bill.

Good Governance is a corner stone of modern development and developing world in development

discourse. Parliament and Government are the chief agent of Good Governance. Democratic

practices, transparency and accountability are the hart of Good Governance. To bring accountability

and transparency ensuring democracy, parliamentary committees should be independent in its

business as framework. Political party, media, elite, civil society, bureaucracy are the agent of a

potential parliament. In JS, parliamentary committees are not activated independently by ruling party

where no introduction of merit of the nation. In the developed countries, parliamentary committees

are more structural and the nominative political environment is developed by such culture.

There is a great recommendation on JS parliamentary committee’s activities that, the ruling party

does not consider opposition parties nominating members in committees thus, the committees are

becoming a formal beauty of the parliament, but real output is one partisan. Few very important

parliamentary committees like Public Account Committee, Estimate Committee, Governments

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Assurance committee are not acted according the ROP says and the chairs of the committees are filed

with a choice person of the leader of legislature. If such committee’s chairs are filled by opposition

parties senior party men and member of parliament would more realistic and accountability of the

committees would be ensured more. And JS will get expected output.

Though the committee meetings, in principle, were not open to the public, the media played a major

role in communicating committee activities and their weakness to the public. The media particularly

the print media provided with an incentive for the committees to oversee government activities. On

the one hand, they highlighted the misgivings of government departments and on the other hand, they

took the committees close to the people. The public exclusively depended on the print media to know

the committee activities because the parliament did not provide with necessary information about an

ongoing committee work in their home page and in the bulletins, the newsletters and the monographs

that were published by the IPS. Including the committee reports, information materials were not

circulated to the public. The media also highlighted the wrongdoing of the committee members. The

present study cited several examples from the reports published in the national dailies. These reports

showed the nature of wrongdoing of the parliamentary bodies. Along with the media, civil society

organizations for some years had raised their voices for strengthening the parliamentary committees.

Observing the previous data and records of parliamentary committee’s activity and proceeding,

gradually the committees are being important elements of JS and the political parties are giving more

emphasize on the committees. If we see the 8th and 9th parliaments data, in different actors are

excellent and few are very low. After military intervention in power, the stapled process had rejoiced

in 1991. Afterwards, different amendment view impotency of a rule inclusion or exclusion or

rearrange had happed. Different parliamentary development project and experts are supporting JS

with knowledge and technics. World Bank Group, UNDP and other international organization and

agencies supported JS to improve its quality and making a real democracy practices and to make the

SJ as a business for the will of its Citizens. Transparency International Bangladesh regularly monitors

and produces report on parliamentary activity focusing on weakness, causes of the parliament and

the way forward to achieve the weakness. TIB coded few quotes by parliament experts and

politicians. Few of them- “No attention to the committee recommendation by the government, where

is the value of committee’s recommendation”- a chairman of committee. “Recommendation of

committee is not a real political matter, this is a formal formation in terms of parliamentary business”

A committee Member. “Committee has no effectiveness in parliamentary business. No ministries are

bound to implement the decisions of the committees” A committee member.

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A parliament expert, “The chairman of a committee is bound to take decisions advised by the leader

of the legislature, no influence of a chairman’s recommendation. As a result, transparency and

accountability of the parliament is not ensured”.

Another Parliament Expert, “Every decisions and doings in parliament are depended on will of Prime

Minister’s will and directions. The committees motion is to ensure legal status of parliament”.

“All powers which are vested in hand of legislature leader by the article of constitution is a barrier of

democracy” a member of Committee.

“Oure political culture is not favorable to make functional parliamentary committees activity. All

supreme parliamentary decision making authority is belongs to the prime minister, the committees

do not go against what is thought by the prime minister. Such case has not found in previous

parliament”, a committee member.

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Annexure: 01

Important Glossary:

Ad-hoc: made or happening only for a particular purpose or need, not planned before it happens. (Cambridge

Dictionary). In parliamentary committee formation, there is a provision and opportunity to make ad hoc

committee to review an important bill rigorously.

Amendment: a change to a law that is not yet in operation and is still being discussed (Cambridge Dictionary).

In democratic or parliamentary government system in a country, in terms of situation and changing

environment of political will, the government brings amendment of constitution. Bangladesh constitution is

amended 16 times after its introduction after liberation of 1971.

Bundestag: a constitutional and legislative body at the federal level in Germany. This is the central

governmental operating institution of Garganey like Bangladesh Jatiyo Sangshad.

Charter: A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the

prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. In 1853 power delegation from Est India Company

to Crown of sub-continent of Indian. The Magna Carta is called the first statement of the world of democracy

was signed in 1215.

Committee: a small group of people chosen to represent a larger organization and either make decisions or

collect information for it. (Cambridge Dictionary). The committee system is an ancient system in politics. In

the age of political development of the world, the shape and framework of committee turned into different

style. At present, parliamentary committee system is a most acceptable parliamentary business to ensure

transparency and accountability of parliament. Bangladesh legislature has a framework of parliamentary

committee system and practices to institutionalized democracy.

Constitution: Constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a

state or other organization is governed. Philosopher Aristotle stated, “The way of life the state has chosen for

itself”. Every country has a constitution. Bangladesh has a constitution that has 153 article, 11 Parts and 4

schedules. A constitution should be Flexible or Rigid and Unwritten and Written.

Civil Society: Civil Society is often populated by organized groups and institutions that are independent of

the state such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), professionals, academia, social and religious

groups. It may be defined as ‘people coming together around a common concern, a concern which is linked

to the values of the wider society, and insisting that the major institutions--the state, political parties, and

business take these values into consideration. It compasses in a wide range of activities to achieve economic,

cultural, educational, and developmental goals. He observed that it is concerned with public rather than

private ends and relates to the state not to gain formal power but rather ‘to seek from the state concessions,

benefits, policy changes, relief, redress, or accountability’.

Democracy: is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised

directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. Abraham Lincoln, defines democracy

as a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”. Britain is called the mother of Democracy

and America is called father of Democracy. The modern world Democracy is the best way of government and

chosen by most of the countries.

East India Company: The East India Company (EIC), also known as the Honorable East India Company

(HEIC) or the British East India Company and informally as John Company, was an English and later British

joint-stock company, which was formed to pursue trade with the East Indies but ended up trading mainly with

the Indian subcontinent and Qing China. The company originally got charter as Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies to trade over the world silk, cotton, indigo, salt, dye, opium etc. In 31 December 1600, the company got Royal Charter from queen Elizabeth. The British government did

not get any share from the company just indirectly controlled over the company. The company started its first

voyage in Asia and in India in 1601. Eventually, the company downed the sun of Bangle and India in a betel

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of Plassey. The Colonel Robert Clive, a very cunning leader formulated sultanate conspiracy between two

brothers in relation Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah and Mir-Zafar. In 1757, only 3000 solders of Col. Clive were

fought against 50,000 soldiers, 40 canons and 10 war elephants of Nawab on 23 June, 1757. The war was only 11 hours. According the war agreement, Mir-Zafar got the kingdom with a little tax payment by Company. But, unskilled Zafar was defeated by Clive 1758. The rule of India Sub-continent coped by company and 1853 a charter was with British King to hand over the power. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_Company)

Executive: branch of government that has authority and responsibility for the daily administration of state

bureaucracy. The president of Bangladesh is the head of Executive.

Ex-Officio: By virtue of office or position; "by right of office". Often used when someone holds one position

by virtue of holding another. This is a Latin Phrase. Ex: President is the ex-officio chairman of Business

Assurance Committee in legislature.

Government: is the system by which a state or community is controlled. Government encompasses

Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.

Good Governance: Good Governance is a process of decision making and the process by which decisions

are implemented. The present exclusive world in the era of globalization, good governance is vestly discussed

in development and political studies.

Jatiyo Sangshad: Jatiyo Sangshad (the Parliament House) often referred to simply as the Sangsad or JS and

also known as the House of the Nation, is the supreme legislative body of Bangladesh.

Judiciary: is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary

also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes.

Legislature: A legislature is a deliberative assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such

as a country or city. Legislatures form important parts of most governments; in the separation of powers model,

they are often contrasted with the executive and judicial branches of government.

Lok Sabha: The Federal Parliamentary House of India. Lok Sabha is composed of representatives of the

people chosen by direct election on the basis of the adult suffrage.

Martial law: is the imposition of the highest-ranking military officer as the military governor or as the head

of the government, thus removing all power from the previous executive, legislative, and judicial branches of

government. It is usually imposed temporarily when the government or civilian authorities fail to function

effectively.

Military Cope: is the illegal and overt seizure of a state by the military or other elites within the state apparatus

Mughal: was an empire in the Indian subcontinent, established and ruled by a Muslim dynasty of Chagatai

Turco-Mongol origin from Central Asia. The dynasty though ethnically Turco-Mongol, was Persianate in

terms of culture

Panchayat: is a South Asian political system found mainly in the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. It is

the oldest system of local government in the Indian subcontinent.

Private Bill: A private member's bill in a parliamentary system of government is a bill (proposed law)

introduced into a legislature by a legislator who is not acting on behalf of the executive branch

Public Bill: a public bill is a bill which proposes a law of general application throughout the jurisdiction in

which it is proposed, and which if enacted will hence become a public law or public act.

Parliament: is a legislative, elected body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions:

representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government.

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Rajan: It is a Bangle word which meaning is King. In ancient Bangla in the era of Hindu ruler, the king was

known as Rajan.

Sabha: It is Bangle word that meaning is like assembly of few people where decisions are made for all. In

ancient Hindu rule Sabha was in place.

Sultanate: The empire of Muslim ruler in Sub-continent of India. It is a kingdom where the rule is known as

Sultan.

Samity: Samity is a committee where few people become together to take a decision. In Hindu rule, it was in

place.

Sultan: The Muslim ruler who is similar in power of King.

Westminster System: The Westminster system is a parliamentary system of government modelled after that

which developed in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This term comes from the

Palace of Westminster, the seat of the British parliament. The system is a series of procedures for operating a

legislature. It is used, or was once used, in the national legislatures and subnational legislatures of most

Commonwealth and ex-Commonwealth nations upon being granted responsible government, beginning with

the first of the Canadian provinces in 1848 and the six Australian colonies between 1855 and 1890. However,

some former colonies have since adopted either the presidential system (Nigeria for example) or a hybrid

system (like South Africa) as their form of government.

Whip: Whips are key agents appointed by both the government and the opposition to ensure party discipline

in legislature. The role of the whip is basically to ensure the presence of the MPs when voting takes place.

For major votes, both the government and the opposition attempt to maximize turnout and the whip’s job is

to ensure this takes place. Other duties of whips include keeping MPs informed about forthcoming

parliamentary business, and passing on to the party leadership the opinions of backbenchers and vice versa.

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Annexure: 02

Article 76 of the Bangladesh Constitution:

PART V

THE LEGISLATURE

Chapter I

PARLIAMENT

Section Index: Standing committees of Parliament:

76. (1) Parliament shall appoint from among its members the following standing committees, that is

to say –

(a) a public accounts committee;

(b) committee of privileges; and

(c) such other standing committees as the rules of procedure of Parliament require.

(2) In addition to the committees referred to in clause (1), Parliament shall appoint other standing

committees, and a committee so appointed may, subject to this Constitution and to any other law -

(a) examine draft Bills and other legislative proposals;

(b) review the enforcement of laws and propose measures for such enforcement;

(c) in relation to any matter referred to it by Parliament as a matter of public importance, investigate

or inquire into the activities or administration of a Ministry and may require it to furnish, through an

authorized representative, relevant information and to answer questions, orally or in writing;

(d) perform any other function assigned to it by Parliament.

(3) Parliament may by law confer on committees appointed under this article powers for –

(a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise;

(b) compelling the production of documents.

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Annexure-03

Rule of Procedure of Bangladesh Parliament: Committees

CHAPTER XXVII

Rules Regulating Committees

(A) General

187. Committee

In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, "Committee" means and includes

"Committee" as defined in sub-rule (1) (f) of rule 2.

188. Appointment of Committee

(1) The members of a Committee shall be appointed by Parliament on a motion made by it.

(2) No member shall be appointed to a Committee who has a personal, pecuniary or direct interest in

any matter which may be considered by that Committee. Nor shall a member be appointed to a

Committee if he is not willing to serve on it. The proposer shall ascertain whether the member whose

name is proposed by him is willing to serve on that Committee. Explanation For the purpose of this

sub-rule the interest of the member should be direct, personal or pecuniary and separately belong to

the person whose inclusion in the Committee may be objected to and not in common with the public

in general or with any class or section thereof or on a matter of State policy.

(3) Casual vacancies in a Committee shall be filled by appointment by the Parliament on a motion

made, and any member appointed, to fill such vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired portion of

the term for which the member in whose place he is appointed, would have normally held office.

189. Term of office of a Committee

(1) Subject to the provisions of the Constitution in this behalf, the term of office of a Committee of

the House other than a Select Committee on a Bill or a Special Committee constituted by the House

for a specific purpose, [shall be valid during the duration of the Parliament]:

[Provided that a Committee may be reconstituted by the House, if necessary.]

(2) A Committee nominated by the Speaker under these rules shall, unless otherwise specified in the

rules contained in this Chapter, hold office for the period specified by him or until a new Committee

is nominated.

190. Resignation from Committee

A member may resign his seat from a Committee by writing under his hand, addressed to the Speaker.

191. Chairman of Committee

(1) The Chairman of a Committee shall, unless designated by the House, be elected by the Committee

from amongst the members of that Committee.

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[(2) If the Chairman ceases to be a member of the Committee, remains absent from any sitting of the

Committee or is otherwise unable to perform his duties, the Committee shall choose another member

to act as Chairman for that sitting.]

192. Quorum

(1) The quorum to constitute a sitting of a Committee shall be, as near as may be, one-third of the

total number of members of the Committee.

(2) If at any time fixed for any sitting of the Committee or if at any time during any such sitting, there

is no quorum, the Chairman of the Committee shall either suspend the sitting until there is a quorum

or adjourn the sitting to some future

day.

(3) When the Committee has been adjourned in pursuance of sub-rule (2) on two successive dates

fixed for sittings of the Committee, the Chairman shall report the fact to the House.

193. Discharge of members absent from sittings of Committee

If a member is absent from two or more consecutive sittings of a Committee without the permission

of the Committee, a motion may be moved in the House for the discharge of such member from the

Committee.

194. Voting in Committee

All questions at any siting of a Committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members

present and voting.

195. Casting vote of Chairman

The case of an equality of votes on any matter, the Chairman, or the person acting as such, shall

have a second or casting vote.

196. Power to appoint Sub-Committees

(1) A Committee may appoint one or more Sub-Committees, each having the powers of the undivided

Committee, to examine any matters that may be referred to them, and the reports of such Sub-

Committees shall be deemed to be reports of the whole Committee, if they are approved at a sitting

of the whole Committee.

(2) The order of reference to a Sub-Committee shall clearly state the point or points for investigation.

The report of the Sub-Committee shall be considered by the whole Committee.

197. Sittings of Committee

The sittings of a Committee shall be held on such days and at such hour as the Chairman of the

Committee may fix.

Provided that if the Chairman of the Committee is not readily available, the Secretary may fix the

date and time of a sitting:

Provided further that in the case of Select Committee on a Bill, if the Chairman of the Committee is

not readily available, the Secretary may, in consultation with the Minister concerned fix the date and

time of a sitting.

198.Committee may sit whilst Parliament is sitting

A Committee may sit whilst the Parliament is sitting provided that on a division being called in the

House the Chairman of the Committee shall suspend the proceedings in the Committee for such time

as will in his opinion enable the members to vote in a division.

199.Sittings of Committee in private

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The sittings of a Committee shall be held in private.

200. Venue of sittings

The sittings of a Committee shall be held within the precincts of the House, and if it becomes

necessary to change the place of sitting outside the House, the matter shall be referred to the Speaker

whose decision shall be final.

201. All strangers to withdraw when Committee deliberates

All persons other than members of the Committee and officers of the Parliament Secretariat shall

withdraw whenever the Committee is deliberating.

202. Power to take evidence or call for documents

(1) A witness may be summoned by an order signed by the Secretary and shall produce such

documents as are required for the use of a Committee.

(2) It shall be in the discretion of the Committee to treat any evidence given before it as secret or

confidential.

(3) No document submitted to the Committee shall be withdrawn or altered without the knowledge

and approval of the Committee.

203. Power to send for persons, papers and records

A Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records:

Provided that if any question arises whether the evidence of a person or the production of a document

is relevant for the purposes of the Committee, the question shall be referred to the Speaker whose

decision shall be final.

Provided further that Government may decline to produce a document on the ground that its

disclosure would be prejudicial to the safety or interest of the State.

204. Evidence on oath

(1) A Committee may administer oath (or affirmation) to a witness examined before it.

(2) The form of the oath (or affirmation) shall be as follows:

"I, ................................. , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that the evidence which I shall give in this

case shall be true, that I will conceal nothing, and that no part of my evidence shall be false".

205. Procedure for examining witnesses

The examination of witnesses before a Committee shall be conducted as follows: -

(i) The Committee shall, before a witness is called for examination, decide the mode of procedure

and the nature of questions that may be asked of the witness.

(ii) The Chairman may first ask the witness such question or questions as he may consider necessary

with reference to the subject-matter under consideration or any subject connected therewith according

to the mode of procedure mentioned in clause (i) of this rule.

(iii) The Chairman may call other members of the Committee one by one to ask any other questions.

(iv) A witness may be asked to place before the Committee any other relevant points that have not

been covered and which a witness thinks are essential to be placed before the Committee.

(v) A verbatim record of proceedings of the Committee shall, when a witness is summoned to give

evidence, be kept. (vi) The evidence given before the Committee may be made available to all

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members of the Committee.

(vi) The evidence given before the Committee may be made available to all members of the

Committee.

206. Record of decisions of Committee

A record of the decisions of a Committee shall be maintained and circulated to members of the

Committee under the direction of the Chairman.

207. Evidence, report and proceedings treated as confidential

(1) A Committee may direct that the whole or a part of the evidence or a summary thereof may be

laid on the Table.

(2) No part of the evidence, oral or written, report or proceedings of a Committee which has not been

laid on the Table shall be open to inspection by anyone except under the authority of the Speaker.

(3) The evidence given before a Committee shall not be published by any member of the Committee

or by any other person until it has been laid on the Table:

Provided that the Speaker may, in his discretion, direct that such evidence be confidentially made

available to members before it is formally laid on the Table.

208. Special reports

A Committee may, if it thinks fit, make a special report on any matter that arises or comes to light in

the course of its work which it may consider necessary to bring to the notice of the House,

notwithstanding that such matter is not directly connected with, or does not fall within or is not

incidental to, its terms of reference.

209. Report of Committee

(1) Where the House has not fixed any time for the presentation of the report by a Committee, the

report shall be presented within one month of the date on which reference to the Committee was

made:

Provided that the House may at any time, on a motion being made, direct that the time for the

presentation of the report by the Committee be extended to a date specified in the motion.

(2) Reports may be either preliminary or final.

(3) The report of the Committee shall be signed by the Chairman on behalf of the Committee:

Provided that in case the Chairman is absent or is not readily available the Committee shall choose

another member to sign the report on behalf of the Committee.

210. Availability of report to Government before presentation

A Committee may, if it thinks fit, make available to Government any part of its report before

presentation to the House. Such reports shall be treated as confidential until presented to the House.

211. Presentation of report

(1) The report of a Committee shall be presented to the House by the Chairman or in his absence by

any member of the Committee.

(2) In presenting the report the Chairman or in his absence, the member presenting the report shall,

if he makes any remarks, confine himself to a brief statement of fact, but there shall be no debate on

that statement at this stage.

212. Printing, publication or circulation of report prior to its presentation to House

(1) The Speaker may, on a request being made to him and when the House is not in session, order

the printing, publication or circulation of a report of a Committee although it has not been presented

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to the House. In that case the report shall be presented to the House during its next session at the first

convenient opportunity.

213. Power to make suggestions on procedure

(1) A Committee shall have power to regulate its own procedure.

[(2) A committee may obtain co-operation and advice from any expert in its respective field, if

deemed necessary.]

214. Power of Speaker to give directions

If any doubt arises on any point of procedure or otherwise, the Chairman may, if he thinks fit, refer

the point to the Speaker whose decision shall be final.

215. Business before Committee not to lapse on prorogation of House Any business pending before a Committee shall not lapse by reason only of the prorogation of the

House and the Committee shall continue to function notwithstanding such prorogation.

216. Unfinished work of Committee

A Committee which is unable to complete its work before the expiration of its term or before the

dissolution of the House may report to the House that the Committee has not been able to complete

its work. Any preliminary report, memorandum or note that the committee may have prepared or any

evidence that the Committee may have taken shall be made available to the new Committee.

217. Applicability of general rules to Committees

Except for matters for which special provision is made in the rules relating to any particular

Committee, the general rules in this Chapter shall apply to all Committees; and in so far as any

provision in the special provisions relating to a Committee is inconsistent with the general rules, the

former rules shall prevail.

218. Secretary to be ex-officio Secretary of Committees or he may authorize any officer

(1) The Secretary shall be ex-officio Secretary to every Committee of the Parliament.

(2) The Secretary may authorize any officer of the Secretariat to perform such duties as he may

direct.

(B) Business Advisory Committee

219. Constitution of Business Advisory Committee

[The] Speaker may nominate a Committee called the Business Advisory Committee consisting of not

more than [fifteen] members including the Speaker who shall be the Chairman of the Committee.

220. Functions of the Committee

(1) It shall be the function of the Committee to recommend the time that should be allocated for the

discussion of the stage or stages of such Government Bills and other business as the Speaker, in

consultation with the Leader of the House, may direct for being referred to the Committee.

(2) The Committee shall have the power to indicate in the proposed timetable the different hours at

which the various stages of the Bill or other business shall be completed.

(3) The Committee shall have such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Speaker from time

to time. Explanation. - The expression 'other business' referred to in this rule means business, other

than private members' Bills and private members' Resolutions under these rules.

221. Notification of allocation of Time Order

The allocation of time in respect of Bills and other business as may be decided by the Committee,

shall be notified in the Bulletin:

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Provided that the Speaker may, after taking the sense of the House, vary the time-table to such extent

as may be considered necessary.

(C) Committee on Private Members' Bills and Resolutions

222. Constitution of Committee on Private Members Bills and Resolutions

(1) There shall be a Committee on Private Members' Bills and Resolutions consisting of not more

than ten members.

(2) The Committee shall be appointed by the House on a motion made by it.

223. Functions of the Committee

(1) The functions of the Committee shall be-

(a) to examine every Bill seeking to amend the Constitution notice of which has been given by a

private member, before a motion for leave to introduce the Bill is included in the Orders of the Day;

(b) to examine all private members' Bills after they are introduced and before they

are taken up for consideration in the House and to classify them according to their nature, urgency

and importance into two categories namely, category A and category B;

(c) to recommend the time that should be allocated for the discussion of the stage or stages of each

private members' Bill and also to indicate in the time-table so drawn up the different hours at which

the various stages of the Bill in a day shall be completed;

(d) to recommend time-limit for the discussion of private members' Resolutions and other ancillary

matters.

(2) The Committee shall perform such other functions in respect of private members' Bills and

Resolutions as may be assigned to it by the House from time to time.

224. Notification of classification and allocation of Time Order

The classification of Bills and the allocation of time in respect of Bills and Resolutions as may be

decided by the Committee, shall be notified in the Bulletin:

Provided that the Speaker may, after taking the sense of the House, vary the time-table to such extend

as may be necessary.

(D) Select Committees on Bills

225. Constitution of Select Committee

The members of a Select Committee on a Bill shall be appointed by the House when a motion that

the Bill be referred to a Select Committee is made; Provided that the member-in-charge of the Bill

shall be a member of the Committee, even if his name be not included in the motion for constitution

of such a Committee:

Provided further that a Minister who is not a member of the Committee may, with the permission of

the Chairman, address the Committee.

226. Notice of Amendments and procedure generally

A member of a Select Committee may propose amendments to any of the provisions of the Bill after

giving one days’ notice unless the Chairman allows amendments to be proposed without such notice.

227.Power of Committee to take evidence

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A Select Committee may hear expert evidence and representatives of special interests affected by the

measure before them.

228.Report of the Committee

(1) As soon as may be, after a Bill has been referred to a Select Committee, the Select Committee

shall meet from time to time in accordance with rule 197 to consider the Bill and shall make a report

thereon within the time fixed by the House:

Provided that where the House has not fixed any time for the presentation of the report by a Select

Committee, the report shall be presented before the expiry of three months from the date on which

the House adopted the motion for the reference of the Bill to the Select Committee:

Provided further that the House may at any time, on a motion being made, direct that the time for the

presentation of the report by the Select Committee be extended to a date specified in the motion.

(2) The Select Committee shall in their report state whether the publication of the Bill required by

these rules has taken place, and the date on which the publication has taken place.

(3) Where a Bill has been altered, the Select Committee may, if they think fit, include in their report

a recommendation to the member-in-charge of the Bill that his next motion should be a motion for

circulation, or, where the Bill has already been circulated, for re-circulation.

(4) Any member of the Select Committee may record a minute of dissent on any matter or matters

connected with the Bill or dealt with in the report.

(5) A minute of dissent shall be couched in temperate and decorous language and shall not refer to

any discussion in the Select Committee nor cast aspersion on the Committee.

229. Presentation of report

The report of the Select Committee on a Bill together with the minutes of dissent, if any, shall be

presented to the House by the Chairman or in his absence by any member of the Committee.

230. Printing and publication of reports

The Secretary shall cause every report of a Select Committee to be printed, and a copy of the report

shall be made available for the use of every member of the House.

The report and the Bill, as reported by the Select Committee, shall be published in the Gazette.

(E) Committee on Petitions

231. Constitution of Committee on Petitions

[The] Speaker shall nominate a Committee on petitions consisting of not less than ten members:

Provided that a Minister shall not be nominated a member of the Committee, and that if a member,

after his nomination to the Committee is appointed a Minister he shall cease to be a member of the

Committee from the date of such appointment.

232. Functions of the Committee

(1) The Committee shall examine every petition referred to it, and if the petition complies with these

rules, the Committee may direct that it be circulated. Where circulation of the petition has not been

directed, the Speaker may at any time direct that the petition be circulated.

(2) Circulation of the petition shall be in extensor or in summary form as the Committee or the

Speaker, as the case may be, may direct.

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(3) It shall also be the duty of the Committee to report to the House on specific complaints made in

the petition referred to it and to suggest remedial measures in a concrete form.

(F) Standing Committee on Public Accounts

233. Functions of Committee on Public Accounts

(1) There shall be a Committee on Public Accounts for the examination of accounts showing the

appropriation of sums granted by the House for the expenditure of the [Government], the annual

finance accounts of the 58[Government] and such other accounts laid before the House as the

Committee may think fit. [Upon examination of irregularities and lapses of Institutions, the

Committee shall report to Parliament with recommendations of remedial measures.]

(2) In scrutinizing the Appropriation Accounts of the 2[Government] and the report of the

Comptroller and Auditor-General thereon, it shall be the duty of the Committee to satisfy itself-

(a) that the moneys shown in the accounts as having been disbursed were legally available for, and

applicable to, the service or purpose to which they have been applied or charged;

(b) that the expenditure conforms to the authority which governs it; and

(c) that every re-appropriation has been made in accordance with the provisions made in this behalf

under rules framed by competent authority.

(3) It shall also be the duty of the Committee-

(a) to examine the statement of accounts showing the income and expenditure of state corporations,

trading and manufacturing schemes, concerns and projects together with the balance-sheets and

statements of profit and loss accounts which the President may have required to be prepared or are

prepared under the provisions of the statutory rules regulating the financing of a particular

corporation, trading or manufacturing scheme or concern or project and the report of the Comptroller

and Auditor-General thereon;

(b) to examine the statement of accounts showing the income and expenditure of autonomous and

semi-autonomous bodies, the audit of which may be conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor-

General of Bangladesh either under the directions of the President or by a statute of Parliament; and

(c) to consider the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General in cases where the President may

have required him to conduct an audit of any receipts or to examine the accounts of stores and stocks.

(4) If any money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted

by the House for that purpose, the Committee shall examine with reference to the facts of each case

the circumstances leading to such an excess and make such recommendation as it may deem fit.

234.Constitution of the Committee

The Committee shall consist of not more than fifteen members who shall be appointed by the

House:

Provided that a Minister shall not be appointed a member of the Committee, and that if a member,

after his appointment to the Committee, is appointed a Minister he shall, cease to be a member of

the Committee from the date of such appointment.

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(G) Committee on Estimates

235. Functions of Committee on Estimates

There shall be a Committee on Estimates for the examination of such of the Estimates as may seem

fit to the Committee or are specifically referred to it by the House. The functions of the Committee

shall be-

(a) to report what economies, improvements in organization, efficiency or administrative reform,

consistent with the policy underlying the estimates, may be effected;

(b) to suggest alternative policies in order to bring about efficiency and economy in administration;

(c) to examine whether the money is well laid out within the limits of the policy implied in the

estimates; and

(d) to suggest the form in which the estimates shall be presented to the House.

236. Constitution of the Committee

The Committee shall consist of not more than ten members who shall be appointed by the House

from amongst to its members:

Provided that a Minister shall not be appointed a member of the Committee, and that if a member,

after his appointment to the Committee, is appointed a Minister he shall cease to be a member of the

Committee from the date of such appointment.

237. Examinations of Estimates by Committee

The Committee may continue the examination of the estimates from time to time throughout the

financial year and report to the House as its examination proceeds. It shall not be incumbent on the

Committee to examine the entire estimates of any one year. The demands for grants may be finally

voted notwithstanding the fact that the Committee has made no report.

(H) Committee on Public Undertakings.

238. Functions of Committee on Public Undertakings

There shall be a Committee on Public Undertakings for the examination of the working of the public

undertakings specified in Schedule IV. The functions of the Committee shall be-

(a) to examine the reports and accounts of the public undertakings specified in the Schedule IV;

(b) to examine the reports, if any, of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on the public undertakings;

(c) to examine, in the context of the autonomy any deficiency of the public undertakings, whether

the affairs of the public undertakings are being managed in accordance with sound business principles

and prudent commercial practices; [the Committee shall report to Parliament on remedy of

irregularities and lapses of the public undertaking and recommend measures to free the institution

from corruption and, if considered necessary, a part of its report in this respect may be sent to the

Government before the report is placed before Parliament;] and

(d) to exercise such other functions vested in the Committee on Public Accounts and the Committee

on Estimates in relation to the public undertakings specified in the Schedule IV as are not covered

by clauses (a), (b) and (c) above and as may be allotted to the Committee by the Speaker from time

to time:

Provided that the Committee shall not examine and investigate any of the following, namely: -

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(i) matters of major Government policy as distinct from business or commercial functions of the

public undertakings;

(ii) matters of day-to-day administration; and

(iii) matters for the consideration of which machinery is established by any special statute under

which a particular public undertaking is established.

239. Constitution of the Committee

The Committee shall consist of not more than ten members who shall be elected by the House:

Provided that a Minister shall not be elected a member of the Committee, and that if a member, after

his election to the Committee, is appointed a Minister he shall cease to be member of the committee

from the date of such appointment.

(I) Standing Committee of Privileges 240. Constitution of Committee of Privileges

[At its first session] [the] Parliament shall appoint a Committee of Privileges consisting of not more

than ten members.

241.Examination of question by Committee

(1) The Committee shall examine every question referred to it and determine with reference to the

facts of each case whether a breach of privilege is involved and, if so, the nature of the breach, the

circumstances leading to it and make such recommendations as it may deem fit.

(2) The report may also state the procedure to be followed by the House in giving effect to the

recommendations made by the Committee.

242. Consideration of report

After the report, has been presented, the Chairman or any member of the Committee or any other

member may move that the report be taken into consideration whereupon

the Speaker may put the question to the House.

243. Priority for consideration of report of the Committee

A motion that the report of the Committee be taken into consideration shall be accorded the priority

assigned to a matter of privilege under rule 167 unless there has been undue delay in bringing it

forward:

Provided that when a date has already been fixed for the consideration for the report, it shall be

given priority as a matter of privilege on the day so appointed.

(J) Committee on Government Assurances

244. Functions of Committee on Government Assurances

There shall be a Committee on Government Assurances to scrutinize the assurances, promises,

undertakings, etc., given by a Minister, from time to time, on the floor of the House and to report

on-

(a) the extent to which such assurances, promises, undertakings, etc. have been implemented; and

(b) where implemented, whether such implementation has taken place within the minimum time

necessary for the purpose.

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245. Constitution of the Committee

The Committee shall consist of not more than eight members who shall be appointed by the House.

(K) Standing Committees on certain other subjects

[246. Appointment of Committees on certain other subjects

Each new Parliament shall, within its third session, appoint the Standing Committees on each

Ministries which may, subject to the Constitution and to any other law, -

(a) examine draft Bills and other legislative proposals;

(b) review the enforcement of laws and propose measures for such enforcement; and

(c) examine any other matter referred to them by Parliament under Article 76 of the Constitution.]

[247. Constitution of the Committee

(1) Every Standing Committee, as referred to in Rule 246, shall consist of not more than ten members

including the Chairman.

(2) Members including the Chairman shall be appointed by the House:

Provided that a Minister shall not be the Chairman of the Committee.

(3) If a member, after being elected as Chairman under Sub-Rule (2), is appointed as Minister, he

shall cease to be the Chairman of the Committee from the date of such appointment.

(4) the Minister in-charge or if there is no Minister, the Minister of State or if there is no Minister of

State. Deputy Minister of a Ministry shall be the ex-officio member of the Committee provided he is

a member of Parliament.

(5) Even if the Minister-in-charge or the Minister of State or the Deputy Minister of a Ministry is not

a member of Parliament, he may remain present in the meeting of the Committee and take part in

the proceedings but shall abstain from voting.

(6) If there be no Minister in-Charge or Minister of State or Deputy Minister of a Ministry, the

Leader of the House shall nominate a member of the Cabinet to the Standing Committee of such

Ministry and if he is a member of Parliament he shall be a member of the Committee and if he is

not a member of Parliament, he may remain present in the meeting and take part in its proceedings

but shall abstain from voting.]

[248. Functions of Committee

Each such Standing Committee shall meet at least once in a month and the functions of a Committee

shall be to examine any Bill or other matter referred to it by Parliament, to review the works relating

to a Ministry which falls within its jurisdiction, to inquire into any activity or irregularity and serious

complaint in respect of the Ministry and to examine, if it deems fit, any such other matter as may fall

within its jurisdiction and to make recommendations.

Provided that if for any reason the meeting of a Committee is not called in accordance with these

rules, the Speaker may direct the Secretary to call a meeting of that Committee and the Secretary

shall convene a meeting of the Committee at a date, time and place fixed by the Speaker.]

(L) House Committee

249. Constitution of House Committee

(1) There shall be a House Committee consisting of not more than twelve members including the

Chairman.

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(2) The Committee shall be nominated by the Speaker. A member may be re-nominated by the

Speaker to the new House committee.

250. Functions of the Committee

(1) The functions of the House Committee shall be

(i) to deal with all questions relating to residential accommodation for members of Parliament; and

(ii) to exercise supervision over facilities for accommodation, food, medical aid and other amenities

accorded to members in M.P. House in Dacca.

(2) The functions of the Committee shall be advisory.

251. Accommodation Sub-Committee

(1) There shall also be an Accommodation Sub-Committee consisting of not more than four members

including the Chairman of the House Committee who shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Sub-

Committee.

(2) The members of the Sub-Committee shall be nominated by the Chairman of the House Committee

from amongst the members of the House Committee.

(3) The quorum to constitute a sitting of the Sub-Committee shall be two.

(4) The function of the Sub-Committee shall be to advise on the allotment of residential

accommodation to members.

252. Power to appoint Sub-Committee

(1) The Committee may appoint one or more Sub-Committees, each having the powers of the

undivided committee, to examine any special points relating to residential accommodation, food,

medical aid and other amenities in M.P. Houses and the reports of such Sub-Committees shall be

deemed to be the reports of the whole committee, if they are approved at a sitting of the whole

Committee.

(2) The order of reference to a Sub-Committee shall clearly state the point or points for investigation.

The report of the Sub-Committee shall be considered by the whole Committee.

253. Secretariat for Committee

The Secretariat for the House Committee or its Sub-Committees shall be provided by the Parliament

Secretariat. An Officer of the Parliament Secretariat nominated in this behalf by the Secretary of the

Parliament shall be the Secretary to the House Committee and the Accommodation Sub-Committee.

254. Record of proceedings and Minutes of Committee

(1) A record of the proceedings of the sittings of the House Committee and the Accommodation Sub-

Committee shall be maintained.

(2) The draft minutes shall be prepared by the Secretary to the Committee and approved by the

Chairman.

(3) The minutes of each sitting shall be circulated to members of the Committee or the Sub-

Committee, as the case may be. Relevant extracts there from may be forwarded to appropriate

authorities for necessary action.

255.Appeal against decision of Committee or Sub-Committee

An appeal against the decision of the House Committee or Accommodation Sub-Committee shall lie

to the Speaker whose decision shall be final.

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256. Provisions applicable in other respects

In other respects, the general rules applicable to [other Committees] shall apply with such

adaptations, whether by way of modification, addition or omission, as the Speaker may consider

necessary or convenient.

(M) Library Committee

257. Constitution of Library Committee

(1) There shall be a Library Committee consisting of the Deputy Speaker and nine other members

from the Parliament nominated by the Speaker.

(2) The Deputy Speaker shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Committee

(3) Casual vacancies in the Committee shall be filled by nomination by the Speaker from the

members of the Parliament.

258.Functions of the Committee The functions of the Committee shall be

(a) to consider and advise on such matters concerning the Library as may be referred to it by the Speaker from

time to time; (both consider suggestions for the improvement of the Library; and

(c) to assist members of Parliament in fully utilizing the services provided by the Library.

262. Provisions applicable in other respects In other respects, the general rules applicable to other Committees [***] shall apply with such

adaptations, whether by way of modification, addition or omission, as the Speaker may consider

necessary or convenient.

(N) Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure

263. Functions of Rules Committee

There shall be a Committee on Rules of Procedure to consider matters of procedure and conduct of

business in the House and to recommend any amendments [by way of addition, alteration,

substitution or repeal] to these rules that may be deemed necessary.

264. Constitution of the Committee

The Committee on Rules of Procedure shall be appointed by the House and shall consist of twelve

members including the Chairman [**]. The Speaker shall be the ex-officio Chairman.

265. Laying of report on the Table (1) The recommendations of the Committee shall be laid on the Table and within a period of seven days,

beginning with the day on which they are so laid, any member may give notice of any amendment to such

recommendation.

(2) The House shall consider the Report of the Committee and amendments, if any, proposed thereto and the

Rules shall stand amended [accordingly] after the same has been adopted by the House.

(3) The amendments or additions to the rules shall come into force on their adoption by the House and shall

be notified in the official Gazette.

(0) Special Committee 266.Composition and Functions

The Parliament may, by motion, appoint a Special Committee which shall have such composition

and function as may be specified in the motion.

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A. Bibliography:

Books/ Legal Documents:

1. Bangladesh Awami League. https://www.albd.org/

2. Bangladesh nationalist Party. https://www.bnpbd.org/

3. The Bangladesh Constitution. Available at

http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/pdf_part.php?id=367 Visited_18_11_2016

4. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany. Available at- https://www.btg-

bestellservice.de Visited 10/11/2016

5. Constitution, Jefferson’s manual And Rules of the house of Representatives of the United States,

One hundred twelfth congress, John v. Sullivan Parliamentarian.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/HMAN-112/pdf/HMAN-112.pdf Visited 11/11/2016

6. The Constitution of India. Available at http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29July08.pdf Visited

18/11/2016.

7. Kay Richard, “Comparative Constitutional Fundamentals”, University of Connecticut

School of Law.

http://digitalcommons.uconn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1300&context=law_papers

Visited 15/12/2016

8. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bangladesh_2011.pdf

9. Effectiveness of Parliamentary Standing Committees in Bangladesh: Challenges and Way Forward.

Available at https://www.ti-bangladesh. Visited 14/11/2016

10. H.W.R. Wade, “Constitutional Fundamentals”, The Hamlyn Lectures,

http://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/media/universityofexeter/schoolofhumanitiesandsocialscie

nces/law/pdfs/Constitutional_Fundamentals.pdf Visited 30/11/2016

11. https://www.ti-bangladesh.org Visited- 10/11/2016

12. John K. Johnson, Robert T. Nakamura, “Orientation handbook for members of parliaments,

2006. Available at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTPARLIAMENTARIANS/Resources/Orientation-Handboo Visited- 15 November-2016

13. Parliamentary Committees Introduction of India. Available at

http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Committee/Comm_Introductionnew.pdf#page=3

Visited_25/11/2016

14. Dr. Shanje Martin & Dr. Sam DePauw, “ Parliamentary Committees and Multi-Party

Government”, Available at https://ecpr.eu/Filestore/PaperProposal/cec5f1c2-deb2-41b4-

8dd4-9a89cc4001fc.pdf Visited 25/11/2016. 15. Huq, Mufazzalul(1991), ‘Parliamentary committees and public enterprise accountability in

Bangladesh’, Management Development, Vol. 20, 1991.

16. Hasanuzzaman, Al Masud (2007), “Role of Parliamentary Committees in Bangladesh”, in Nizam

Ahmed and ATM Obaidullah (eds.), The Working of Parliamentary Committees

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17. Rules of Procedures of Bangladesh Parliament, English. Available at

http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/rules-of-procedure-3 Visited 18/11/2016

18. Rules of Procedure of the German Bundestag and Rules of Procedure of the Mediation

Committee. Available at- https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80060000.pdf Visited

10/11/2016

19. Rules of Procedure of the Indian Parliament. Available at

http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/rules/rulep26.html Visited-25/11/2016

20. UK Parliament, http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/ Visited 14/11/2016

21. https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/politics/people/dr-shane-martin/pdfs/the-committee-

system Visited 14/11/2016

22. cvj©vv‡g›UIqvP, beg RvZxq msm`, Rvbyqyqvwi 2009 - b‡f¤̂i^i 2013, mvi-ms‡ÿc, 18 gvP© 2014.

https://www.ti-bangladesh.

23. mvwe©K wb‡ ©̀kbvq Av`bvb †gvnwmb, ivR BKevj kvnwiqvi, Òmsm` wb‡ ©̀wkKv, AvBb cÖYqb cÖwµqv Ges w¯úKvi-mvsm`-RbMbÓ,

MÖxK wjwg‡UW- 862472, https://www.ti-bangladesh.

B. References

Research work/Journal/ newspapers

1. Bangladesh: Country Financial Accountability Assessment; Parliamentary Control Over Public

expenditure in Bangladesh: The Role of Committees, May, 2000. Available at

https://www.google.com.bd/?gws_rd=cr,ssl&ei=B-g-

WIqnHYSAvQTv_LqICQ#q=Parliamentary+Control+Over+Public+Expenditure+in+Bangladesh:+The+

Role+of+Committees

2. Martin Shane, “The Committee System, , School of Law & Government”, Dublin City University.

3. Mollah, Md.Awal Hossain Mollah, “Good Governance in Bangladesh: Role of Parliament” , Lecturer,

Dept. Of Public Administration, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. available at:

https://www.google.com.bd/?gws_rd=cr,ssl&ei=B-g-

WIqnHYSAvQTv_LqICQ#q=Parliamentary+Control+Over+Public+Expenditure+in+Bangladesh:+The+

Role+of+Committeeshttp://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UNPAN/UNPAN01

4209.pdf

4. Parliamentary Committees in Democracies, World Bank Group. Available at-

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/PSGLP/Resources/CommitteesUnit1.pdf visited 20/11/2016

5. The Parliamentary Committee System in Bangladesh; An Analysis of its Functioning, K.M.

Mahiuddin, Lecturar, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Bangladesh. Available at

http://archiv.ub.uni-

heidelberg.de/volltextserver/9565/1/Parliamentary_Committees_in_Bangladesh.pdf. Visited

24/10/2016.

6. Avd‡ivR dv‡Zgv, †iv‡RwU Rywj‡qU, Òmsm`xq ¯’vqx KwgwUi Kvh©KiZv: P¨v‡jÄ I DËi‡Yi DcvqÓ, wU AvB we, 9

AvM÷, 2015, https://www.ti-bangladesh.org Visited- 15/10/2016

7. Av³vi †gvi‡k`v, Avd‡ivR dv‡Zgv I†iv‡RwU Rywj‡qU, Òcvj©v‡g›U IqvP cÖwZ‡e`b, beg RvZxq msm`Ó, wU AvB we,

Rvbyqvwi 2009 -b‡f¤̂i2013, , wmiWvcwgjbvqZb, XvKv, 18 gvP© 2014. https://www.ti-bangladesh.org

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C. Journal and Newspapers