Jatiya Sangsad — National Parliament of Bangladesh

Composition and membership

The Parliament consists of 345 seats. Of these, 300 are filled by direct popular election from single-member constituencies. In addition, 45 seats are reserved for women; those reserved seats are allocated to political parties in proportion to the number of general seats they win and are filled by party nomination. The house is therefore a mixture of directly elected representatives and nominated reserved-seat members who represent women's interests in the legislature.

Powers and functions

The Jatiya Sangsad carries out several core functions central to parliamentary democracy:

• Legislation: drafting, debating and enacting laws applicable across Bangladesh.
• Budgetary approval: considering and approving the national budget and public expenditure.
• Oversight: scrutinizing government actions and holding the executive to account through questions, debates and committee work.
• Appointments and formal roles: the Parliament elects the President of Bangladesh and confirms other key positions as required by law.

Elections, government formation and qualifications

General elections for the directly elected seats are normally held every five years. The leader of the party or coalition that commands a majority of seats typically becomes the Prime Minister and heads the government; this leader is usually chosen by the majority party and recognized in the House. The President, who serves chiefly as the ceremonial head of state, is elected by the Parliament itself: see the Presidency outline at President of Bangladesh and the ceremonial role described at ceremonial head of state.

Eligibility to serve as an MP requires Bangladeshi citizenship and a minimum age of 25. Parties that win seats nominate members to reserved women's seats in proportion to their electoral strength, a mechanism designed to ensure greater female representation in the legislature.

History, chamber and building

The modern Jatiya Sangsad traces its roots to Bangladesh's independence and constitutional development. The Parliament meets in the distinctive Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament House) in the capital, an architecturally notable complex designed by the American architect Louis Kahn. The building is internationally recognized for its monumental geometric forms and is an important national symbol of the legislature.

Notable facts and distinctions

Key practical points about the Sangsad include its unicameral structure (there is no upper house), its mixture of directly elected and reserved-member representation, and the centrality of the parliamentary majority in forming government. Political parties and coalitions play a decisive role in shaping policy and leadership; for information on the current majority formation and party positions, consult resources such as majority party information and summaries of party platforms at Prime Minister and party leadership.

The Jatiya Sangsad remains the focal institution of Bangladesh's representative democracy, balancing the task of lawmaking with oversight, representation and the ceremonial responsibilities that accompany a parliamentary state.