Limits of Parliamentary Control : Public Spending in Bangladesh

Contents: Abbreviations. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Parliamentary control and government accountability: exploring the relationship. 3. Systems of Parliamentary financial control. 4. Parliamentary control of expenditure: traditional methods. 5. Parliamentary committees and scrutiny of expenditure. 6. Limits of Parliamentary control. 7. Strengthening parliamentary surveillance: exploring the alternatives. 8. Conclusion. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.

"One of the important functions of Parliament is to authorise the raising of funds and its expenditure. It is in its control over public finance that the so-called 'sovereignty' of Parliament manifests itself in Bangladesh. Article 83 of the Constitution provides that no tax can be levied or collected except by or under an authority of an Act of Parliament. Similarly, no expenditure may be incurred without parliamentary approval.

This book examines the extent to which these powers are formal or real. It explores the scope and limits of parliamentary control of public expenditure in Bangladesh. The study reveals that Parliament is now better poised to conduct effective scrutiny of public expenditure largely because of changes that have taken place in party composition and parliamentary procedures in recent years. However, it still remains disadvantaged vis-a-vis the executive. The book identifies the constraints that discourage the MPs from being proactive in Parliament and assesses the proposals suggested to further strengthening of parliamentary surveillance over public finance.

This is the first book of its kind and should be of interest to academics, parliamentarians, party politicians, researchers, students, donors and civil society representatives." (jacket)