Role of Parliament and Governance in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects

Governance is a much talked and pronounced word for the last 40 years in development discourse globally. The efficiency and effectiveness of governance or democratic governance is dependent on various public and private actors and factors. The government has three basic organs like executive, legislature and Judiciary. This paper aims to critically evaluate the role of parliament (one organ of government) in ensuring democratic governance as well as good governance in Bangladesh. The paper is a case-oriented qualitative study and based on secondary sources of materials. The basic three functions of a parliament are a) law-making; b) representation; and c) oversight. Thus, parliament plays a crucial role in the development, people participation, rule of law, ensuring accountability and transparency, making laws and policies that promote good governance. Though Bangladesh has started its journey as a parliamentary form of government and past 48 years of its independence amid some (16) years of military intervention, however, the parliament of Bangladesh is not still effective to ensure the core elements of democratic or good governance by its three basic functions. Besides, the parliament of Bangladesh has been facing several problems and challenges to ensure its viability and effectiveness. The paper would be helpful for revamping policy initiatives by the policymakers. Future researchers also will benefit from this paper.

Keyword: Parliamentary committees, law making, rule of law, accountability, representation, governance, Bangladesh.