Article 70 to be Relaxed, Allowing MPs to Vote Freely
1-Click Audio Report (Universal Voice)
The Constitution Reform Committee plans to relax controversial Article 70, allowing lawmakers to vote independently on most issues, excluding budget bills, confidence votes, constitutional amendments, and national security.
- MPs will be able to vote freely except on financial bills, trust votes, constitutional changes, and national security.
- Deliberations are underway regarding restoring caretaker government and establishing an upper house in parliament.
- Proposals for a Supreme Court secretariat and institutional reforms for judicial appointments are being reviewed.
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The Special Committee on Constitutional Reform has indicated a significant shift regarding the controversial Article 70 of the Constitution. Following the committee's ninth meeting at the National Parliament building on Saturday, the committee head announced that lawmakers will soon have the freedom to vote independently against party lines on general matters, barring four critical areas.
Nearly fifty prominent legal experts, jurists, and law professors attended the high-level meeting at the parliament complex. Key discussions centered on reinstating the non-party caretaker government system, establishing a bicameral parliament with an upper house, and safeguarding the independence of the judiciary, all aimed at institutionalizing robust democratic checks and balances.
Speaking to the press after the session, Committee Chairman Salahuddin Ahmed explained that the proposed relaxation aligns with the July Charter. While MPs will still be bound by party discipline on money bills, confidence or no-confidence motions, constitutional amendments, and national security matters, they will enjoy total voting freedom on all other general legislative issues.
Several frameworks were evaluated during the talks regarding how the caretaker government and proposed upper house would function cooperatively. Analysts note that easing Article 70 will revitalize parliamentary democracy by encouraging genuine debate, and the committee is set to finalize its comprehensive report once all experts submit their written recommendations.
“Article 70 of Bangladesh's Constitution has long faced criticism for reducing parliament members into rubber stamps by penalizing internal dissent with parliamentary seat disqualification. The proposed relaxation represents a balanced compromise: it shields the government from sudden collapse over budgets and confidence motions while restoring authentic legislative independence across regular governance issues.”
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