Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T03:48:32.955Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Parliament and Good Governance: A Bangladeshi Perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2008

MUHAMMAD MUSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN
MUHAMMAD MUSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN*
Affiliation:
Kasablanka, Room-25, 2-8-8 Iguchido, Ikeda City, 563-0023 [email protected] and [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The attainment of good governance is the question of the day in Bangladesh. This paper discusses the ‘bedrock of good governance’, parliamentary accountability, and assesses the effectiveness of the Bangladesh Parliament in ensuring governmental accountability and promoting good governance since 1991 when the country re-entered into parliamentary democracy. Considerable discrepancies between the expected role and practical performances are identified and the study further identified a number of problems that severely hinder parliament's accountability function. This paper primarily argues that Bangladesh vested excessive powers in the hands of the executive branch; it, therefore, lacks the proper checks and balances a strong parliament could provide.

Type
Research Article
Information
Japanese Journal of Political Science , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , April 2008 , pp. 39 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aucoin, Peter (2006), ‘Improving Government Accountability’, Canadian Parliamentary Review, 29 (3): 20–29Google Scholar
Aucoin, Peter and Jarvis, Mark D. (2005), Modernizing Government Accountability: A Framework for Reform, Canada: Canada School of Public Service.Google Scholar
Ahmed, Nizam (2004), ‘Departmentally Related Parliamentary Committees in Westminster Systems’, in Newsletter Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy, UNDP, Dhaka.Google Scholar
Ahmed, Nizam (2003a), ‘From Monopoly to Competition: Party Politics in the Bangladesh Parliament (1973–2001)’, Pacific Affairs, 76 (1): 55–77.Google Scholar
Ahmed, Nizam (2003b), The Parliament of Bangladesh, Burlington: Ashgate Publishing Limited.Google Scholar
Ahmed, Nizam (2000), Parliament and Public Spending in Bangladesh: Limits of Control, Dhaka: Bangladesh Institute of Parliamentary Studies.Google Scholar
Ahmed, Nizam (2000), Parliament and Public Spending in Bangladesh: Limits of Control, Dhaka: Bangladesh Institute of Parliamentary Studies.Google Scholar
Ahmed, Nizam (1999), ‘In Search of Institutionalisation: Parliament in Bangladesh’, in Norton, Philip and Ahmed, Nizam (eds), Parliaments in Asia, London: Frank Cass.Google Scholar
Ahmed, Nizam (1997–98), ‘The Development of the Select Committee System in the British House of Commons’, Canadian Parliamentary Review, 20 (4): 28–34.Google Scholar
Ahmed, Nizam (1997), ‘Parliament–Executive Relations in Bangladesh’, The Journal of Legislative Studies, 3 (4): 70–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aminuzzaman, S. (1996), ‘Accountability and Promotion of Ethics and Standards of Behavior of the Public Bureaucracy in Bangladesh’, Asian Review of Public Administration, 8 (1): 13–27.Google Scholar
Baerwald, Hans H. (1986), Party Politics in Japan, Boston: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
BJS (Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad) (2006a), ‘Report of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Communication of The Eighth JS’ (in Bengali), Parliament Secretariat, Dhaka.Google Scholar
BJS (2006b), ‘Report of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of the Eighth JS’ (in Bengali), Parliament Secretariat, Dhaka.Google Scholar
BJS (2006c), ‘Report of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Science, Information Technology of the Eighth JS’ (in Bengali), Parliament Secretariat, Dhaka.Google Scholar
BJS (2005), ‘First Report of the Public Accounts Committee of The Eighth JS, (in Bengali), Parliament Secretariat, Dhaka.Google Scholar
BJS (2001), ‘Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of the People's Republic of Bangladesh’, Parliament Secretariat, Dhaka.Google Scholar
Blondel, Jean (1990), Comparative Government, London: Philip Allan.Google Scholar
Bowlder, Shaun, Farrell, David M., and Katz, Richard S. (1999), ‘Party Cohesion, party Discipline, and Parliaments’, in Bowlder, Shaun, Farrell, David M. and Katz, Richard S. (eds), Party Discipline and Parliamentary Government, Columbus: Ohio State University Press, pp. 3–22.Google Scholar
Brazier, Rodney (1994), Constitutional Practice, Oxford: Clarendon Press.Google Scholar
Carey, Hojn M. and Shugart, Matthew Soberg (1995), ‘Incentives to Cultivate a Personal Vote: a Rank Ordering of Electoral Formulas’, Electoral Studies, 14 (4): 417–439.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chowdhury, Riazur Rahman (2001), Parliamentary Duties of the Comptroller and Auditor-General in Bangladesh, Dhaka: Bangladesh Institute of Parliamentary Studies.Google Scholar
Cox, w. Gary (1987), The Efficient Secret: The Cabinet and the development of political parties in Victorian England, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daily Naya Diganta (Dhaka) 28 October 2006.Google Scholar
Daily Star (Dhaka) 9 May 2006.Google Scholar
Daily Star (Dhaka) 30 May 2005.Google Scholar
Daily Star (Dhaka), 28 October 2005.Google Scholar
Daily Star (Dhaka) 24 February 2005.Google Scholar
Daily Star (Dhaka) 8 November 2003.Google Scholar
Downs, Anthony (1957), An Economic Theory of Democracy, New York: Harper & Row.Google Scholar
GPRB (Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh) (1996), The Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka: Government Printing Press.Google Scholar
Hakim, Abdul (2000), The Changing Forms of Government in Bangladesh: The Transition to Parliamentary System in 1991, in Perspective, Dhaka: Bangladesh Institute of Parliamentary Studies.Google Scholar
Hamid, Abdul (2006), Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House, Interviewed, 24 February.Google Scholar
Harmon, M. (1995), Responsibility as Paradox, London: Sage.Google Scholar
Hasanuzzaman, Al Masud (1998), Role of Opposition in Bangladesh Politics, Dhaka: The University Press.Google Scholar
Hirst, Paul (2000), ‘Democracy and Governance’, in Pierre, Jon (ed.), Debating Governance, New York: Oxford University Press Inc.Google Scholar
Ittefaq (Dhaka) 6 October 2006.Google Scholar
Ittefaq (Dhaka) 6 June 2006.Google Scholar
Ittefaq (Dhaka) 2 April 2006.Google Scholar
Jugantor (Dhaka) 2 April 2006.Google Scholar
Jugantor (Dhaka) 26 April 2006.Google Scholar
Kaufmann, D., Kraay, A., and Mastruzzai, M. (2005), Governance Matters 1V: Governance Indicators for 1996–2004, Washington, DC: World Bank.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kesavan, K.V. (2003), ‘Introduction’, in Kesavan, K.V. (ed.), Parliamentary Committees in Japan and India: Their Functions and Relevance, New Delhi: Manak Publications PVT.Google Scholar
Khaliquzzaman, M. (1999), ‘Committee System in Bangladesh Parliament’, in IPS (Institute of Parliamentary Studies) Parliamentary Committee System in Bangladesh, Dhaka: IPS.Google Scholar
Khan, Niaz Ahmed, Munir Ahmed, A. N. M., and Rahaman, Muhammad Mustafizur (1999), ‘Accountability, Policy Making and Parliamentary Committees: Bangladesh Perspective’, Unnayn Bitarka, 18 (2): 73–80.Google Scholar
Leftwich, A (1993), ‘Governance, Democracy and Development in the Third World’, Third World Quarterly, 14: 605–624.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mannan, Abdul MP (2004), ‘Parliamentary Oversight and Government Accountability in Bangladesh: the Role of Standing Committees on Ministries’, Paper presented in the seminar, organized by the Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy Project, UNDP, Dhaka.Google Scholar
Mayhew, R. David (1974), Congress: The Electoral Connection, New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Mezey, Michael and Olson, David (1991), Legislatures in the Policy Process, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Nanda, P. Ved (2006), ‘The Good Governance Concept Revisited’, The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 603: 269–283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norton, Philip (1993), Does Parliament Matter? London: Harvester Wheatsheaf.Google Scholar
Norton, Philip and Ahmed, Nizam (1999), ‘Legislatures in Asia: Exploring Diversity’, in Norton, Philip and Ahmed, Nizam (eds), Parliaments in Asia, London: Frank Cass.Google Scholar
Packenham, Robert A. (1970), ‘Legislatures and Political Development’, in Kornberg, Allan and Musolf, Lloyd (eds), Legislatures in Developmental Perspective, Durham: Duke University Press.Google Scholar
Pierre, Jon, and Peters, Guy B. (2000), Governance Politics and the State, London: Macmillan Press Ltd.Google Scholar
Prothom Alo (Dhaka), 14 July 2006.Google Scholar
Rahaman, Muhammad Mustafizur (2006–07), ‘Party Politics and Democratic Reform in Japan’, Canadian Parliamentary Review, 29 (4): 17–21.Google Scholar
Ramachurulu, P. P. K. (2003), ‘Parliamentary Committees and Executive Accountability: A Case Study of Departmentally Related Standing Committees in India’, in Kesavan, K.V. (ed.), Parliamentary Committees in Japan and India. Their Functions and Relevance, New Delhi: Manak Publications PVT, pp. 133–149.Google Scholar
Rashid, Harun MP (2003), ‘Parliamentary Control and Financial Accountability in Bangladesh: The Role of Public Accounts Committee of Jatiya Sangsad’, Paper presented in the seminar, organized by the Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy Project, UNDP, Dhaka.Google Scholar
Rhodes, R.A.W. (1997), Understanding Governance: Policy Networks, Governance, Reflexivity and Accountability, Buckingham: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Rockman, Bert (1984), ‘Legislative–Executive Relations and Legislative Oversight’, Legislative Studies Quarterly, 9 (3): 387–440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, Robert and Walters, Rhodri (2004), How Parliament Works, Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.Google Scholar
Romzek, B. S. and Dubnick, M. J. (1987), ‘Accountability in the Public Sector: Lessons from the Challenger Tragedy’, Public Administration Review, 47 (3): 227–238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaw, Malcolm (1998), ‘Parliamentary Committees: A Global Perspective’, The Journal of Legislative Studies, 4: 225–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaw, Malcolm (1979), ‘Conclusions’, in Lees, J.D. and Shaw, M. (ed.), Committees in Legislatures: A Comparative Analysis, Oxford: Martin Robertson.Google Scholar
Shepsle, Kenneth A. and Weingast, Barry R. (1998), ‘The Institutional Foundations of Committee Power’, in Philip, Norton (ed.), Legislatures and Legislators, Vermont: Ashgate Publishing, pp. 85–104.Google Scholar
Stoker, Garry (1998), ‘Governance as Theory: Fives Propositions’, International Social Science Journal, 155: 17–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thynne, Ian and Goldring, John (1987), Accountability and Control: Government Officials and the Exercise of Power, Singapore: Law Book Company Limited.Google Scholar
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) (2005), ‘Parliament Watch: Report on the 8th Parliament: 11–14 Sessions (2004)’, TIB, Dhaka.Google Scholar
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (1997), ‘Governance for Sustainable Human Development’, available online at http://magnet.undp.org/policy/chapter1.htm (last accessed 2 April 2005).Google Scholar
Wang, Vibeke (2005), ‘The Accountability Function of Parliament in New Democracies: Tanzanian Perspective’, available online at http://www.cmi.no/publications/2005 (last accessed 2 October 2006).Google Scholar
Wiberg, Matti (1995), ‘Parliamentary Questioning’, in Doring, Herbert (ed.), Parliaments and Majority Rule in Western Europe, New York: St Martins Press.Google Scholar
World Bank (2000), ‘Parliamentary Control Over Expenditure in Bangladesh’, available online at http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/legal/BangladeshParliamentary.doc (last accessed 28 December 2005).Google Scholar
World Bank (1996), Bangladesh Government That Works: Reforming the Public Sector, Dhaka: The University Press Limited.Google Scholar
World Bank (1992), cited in A. Leftwich (1993), ‘Governance, Democracy and Development in the Third World’, Third World Quarterly, 14: 605–624.Google Scholar
World Bank (1989), Sub-Saharan Africa: From Crisis to Sustainable Growth: A Long-Term Perspective Study, Washington, DC: The World Bank.Google Scholar