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Published : 15 Mar 2026, 02:49 AM
The parliamentary procedure rules are central to how the Bangladesh National Parliament operates, governing everything from lawmakers’ conduct to committee powers.
On the first day of the 13th parliament’s opening session, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad emphasised their importance, calling the rules “a Bible” for every member, particularly new MPs.
He reminded members to follow seating protocols and respect the speaker’s instructions.
Under Article 75 of the Constitution, parliamentary procedures are regulated by rules enacted by the House.
These rules determine who speaks when, how questions and motions are handled, and the powers of committees, including summoning witnesses, requesting documents, and recording testimonies under oath.
The rules also safeguard MPs’ special privileges.
For instance, no member can be arrested within parliament grounds without the speaker’s permission, and legal proceedings require authorisation from the speaker.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin’s intervention during debates on the president’s speech illustrated the rules in practice -- members were reminded to stay seated, keep remarks brief, and follow the speaker’s guidance.
Former Bangladesh Parliament Journalists’ Association president Harun Al Rashid noted that the rules allow MPs to participate actively while maintaining discipline.
“Members must be courageous and principled in exercising their rights within these rules. Leaders, in turn, must be fair,” he said.
The rules also define question-and-answer sessions, including timelines for submitting questions, limits on the number per MP, and criteria for acceptability.
Committee proceedings are structured with rules for confidential hearings, prior review of questions, and report presentation.
Parliamentary procedure, first issued by the president in 1973 and adopted by the first parliament in 1974, has been amended ten times until 2006.
It ensures that nearly every step of parliamentary work -- from quorums and motions to committee reports and voting -- is conducted within a legal and procedural framework.
