Parliamentary committees of Bangladesh

Committees are an important element of the Jatiya Sangsad, as in most modern legislatures.[1]

Bangladesh has three types of parliamentary committees: standing, select, and special. Standing committees are normally constituted for the duration of the parliament, whereas select and special committees are temporary entities created as needed and dissolved when their task is complete.[2]

The Constitution of Bangladesh mandates a minimum of two parliamentary committees: a Public Accounts Committee and a Privileges Committee.[3] Parliament's Rules of Procedure requires additional committees, including one to shadow each government ministry.[4]

Standing committees typically have between 8 and 15 members.[5] Committees sit in private, their meetings are not open to the public or the media.[6]

The standing committees that parallel government ministries, and two financial ones: the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and Committee on Public Undertakings are widely viewed as the most important ones for oversight and government accountability.[2][3][7] Professor of public administration Nizam Ahmed said of Bangladeshi parliamentary committees that "although they do not appear to be good watchdogs, neither can they be considered as poodles." They have little bite - little direct effect on government actions - but their bark can publicise issues and air disagreements.[8] Taiabur Rahman, another academic in the field, wrote that the Bangladesh Parliament has "a weak committee system with marginal scope in ensuring executive accountability."[7]

List of committees

In the 10th parliamentary sessions, there were 50 committees.[9]

  1. Committee on Estimates
  2. Committee on Government Assurances
  3. Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  4. Library Committee
  5. Committee on Petitions
  6. Committee on Private Member's Bills and Resolutions
  7. Standing Committee of Privileges
  8. House Committee
  9. Business Advisory Committee
  10. Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure
  11. Standing Committee on Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
  12. Standing Committee on Ministry of Commerce
  13. Standing Committee on Ministry of Cultural Affairs
  14. Standing Committee on Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief
  15. Standing Committee on Ministry of Railway
  16. Standing Committee on Ministry of Hill Tracts
  17. Standing Committee on Ministry of Science and Technology
  18. Standing Committee on Ministry of Youth and Sports
  19. Standing Committee on Ministry of Housing and Public Works
  20. Standing Committee on Ministry of Primary and Mass Education
  21. Standing Committee on Ministry of Social Welfare
  22. Standing Committee on Ministry of Land
  23. Standing Committee on Ministry of Agriculture
  24. Standing Committee on Ministry of Defence
  25. Standing Committee on Ministry of Forest and Environment
  26. Standing Committee on Ministry of Textile and Jute
  27. Standing Committee on Ministry of Food
  28. Standing Committee on Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock
  29. Standing Committee on Ministry of Women and Children Affairs
  30. Standing Committee on Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources
  31. Standing Committee on Ministry of Road Transport and Bridge
  32. Standing Committee on Ministry of Shipping
  33. Standing Committee on Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism
  34. Standing Committee on Ministry of Labour and Employment
  35. Standing Committee on Ministry of Information
  36. Standing Committee on Ministry of Religious Affairs
  37. Standing Committee on Ministry of Post Tele Communication & Information Technology
  38. Standing Committee on Ministry of Health and Family Planning
  39. Standing Committee on Ministry of Education
  40. Standing Committee on Ministry of Administration
  41. Standing Committee on Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment
  42. Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  43. Standing Committee on Ministry of Industry
  44. Standing Committee on Ministry of Liberation War
  45. Standing Committee on Ministry of Home Affairs
  46. Standing Committee on Ministry of Water Resources
  47. Standing Committee on Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives
  48. Standing Committee on Ministry of Planning
  49. Standing Committee on Ministry of Finance
  50. Committee on Public Undertakings

References

  1. ^ Ahmed, Nizam (2002). The Parliament of Bangladesh. Routledge. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-138-74066-2.
  2. ^ a b Ahmed 2002, p. 131
  3. ^ a b Jahan, Rounaq; Amundsen, Inge (April 2012). "The Parliament of Bangladesh: Representation and Accountability". Centre for Policy Dialogue and Chr. Michelsen Institute.
  4. ^ Ahmed 2002, p. 134
  5. ^ Rahman, Taiabur (2008). Parliamentary Control and Government Accountability in South Asia: A Comparative Analysis of Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Routledge. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-415-40498-3.
  6. ^ Ahmed 2002, p. 130
  7. ^ a b Rahman 2008, p. 131
  8. ^ Ahmed 2002, pp. 162–163
  9. ^ "Name of Committees for 10th Parliament (English)". Bangladesh Parliament. Retrieved 2 February 2019.