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]
- Committee on Estimates
- Committee on Government Assurances
- Standing Committee on Public Accounts
- Library Committee
- Committee on Petitions
- Committee on Private Member's Bills and Resolutions
- Standing Committee of Privileges
- House Committee
- Business Advisory Committee
- Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Commerce
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Cultural Affairs
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Railway
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Hill Tracts
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Science and Technology
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Youth and Sports
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Housing and Public Works
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Primary and Mass Education
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Social Welfare
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Land
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Agriculture
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Defence
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Forest and Environment
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Textile and Jute
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Food
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Women and Children Affairs
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Road Transport and Bridge
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Shipping
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Labour and Employment
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Information
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Religious Affairs
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Post Tele Communication & Information Technology
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Health and Family Planning
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Education
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Administration
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Industry
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Liberation War
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Home Affairs
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Water Resources
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Planning
- Standing Committee on Ministry of Finance
- Committee on Public Undertakings
References
- ↑ Ahmed, Nizam (2002). The Parliament of Bangladesh. Routledge. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-138-74066-2.
- 1 2 Ahmed 2002, p. 131
- 1 2 Jahan, Rounaq; Amundsen, Inge (April 2012). "The Parliament of Bangladesh: Representation and Accountability". Centre for Policy Dialogue and Chr. Michelsen Institute.
- ↑ Ahmed 2002, p. 134
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Ahmed 2002, p. 130
- 1 2 Rahman 2008, p. 131
- ↑ Ahmed 2002, pp. 162–163
- ↑ "Name of Committees for 10th Parliament (English)". Bangladesh Parliament. Retrieved 2 February 2019.