TIB urges law to strengthen parliamentary standing committees

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has urged the government to enact a new law to strengthen the powers and effectiveness of parliamentary standing committees, expressing concern over what it described as repeated violations of parliamentary procedures in passing legislation and forming key oversight bodies.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman alleged that the ruling party had used its parliamentary majority to push through bills without adequate scrutiny, debate or adherence to the Rules of Procedure, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

He said the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026 was passed without being referred to the relevant standing committee, despite Rule 77 allowing such scrutiny. According to TIB, opposition proposals to circulate the bill for public opinion or send it to a select committee were rejected, while opposition members were not allowed to move amendments.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman also claimed MPs received copies of the bill only moments before it was introduced, depriving them of a meaningful opportunity to examine its provisions. He argued that the legislation was passed unilaterally in breach of established parliamentary practice.

TIB further criticised the introduction of the Bangladesh Medical University (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Public Examinations (Offences) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 as supplementary business without prior notice. It said several other bills were also approved swiftly, disregarding objections from the opposition.

Questioning the legislative process, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said such practices blurred the distinction between the current Parliament and those of previous authoritarian periods.

The anti-corruption watchdog also raised concerns over the formation of parliamentary standing committees in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.

Referring to Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure, it objected to the inclusion of the State Minister for Rural Development and Cooperatives on the standing committees of the Finance and Home ministries, arguing that cabinet members with potential conflicts of interest could undermine parliamentary oversight and accountability.

TIB also said the composition of the committees failed to reflect commitments made under the July National Charter, which stipulates that opposition lawmakers should chair key parliamentary committees and ministry-related standing committees in proportion to their representation.

The organisation called on the government to reconstitute the controversial committees, honour its reform commitments and enact new legislation, in consultation with stakeholders, under Article 78(5) of the Constitution to strengthen parliamentary committee oversight.

It also urged greater female representation, including at least one woman member in each of the four key committees specified in the July Charter.