Member of the Parliament of Bangladesh

A Member of Parliament (MP) in Bangladesh is a member of the unicameral Jatiya Sangsad or House of the Nation. A majority of members are elected directly in general elections, while a minority of seats are reserved exclusively for women and allocated on a proportional basis. The Constitution specifies that Parliament consists of 300 directly-elected members, while 50 seats are reserved for women. The individual who leads the largest party or alliance in parliament usually becomes Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Eligibility criteria In order to qualify to stand for election to Parliament, an individual is required to be – A citizen of Bangladesh. A minimum of twenty-five years of age. Disqualification grounds An individual is disqualified from standing for parliament in the event they – Are declared by a competent court to be of unsound mind. Are an undischarged insolvent. Acquire the citizenship of a foreign state. Have been convicted of a criminal offence involving moral turpitude and have been sentenced to imprisonment for a period of more than two-years. Have been convicted of an offence under the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order, 1972. Hold an office of profit in service of the Republic that disqualifies them from election. Are disqualified from election under any law. Term A Member of Parliament serves until the dissolution of parliament, which can be no more than five-years after its first sitting. But in the event of a war, parliament can pass an Act of Parliament extending the parliamentary term by no more than a year at a time. Parliament must be in session within six months of the conclusion of a war.