Senate of Bangladesh


The Senate of Bangladesh is a proposed upper house in the Jatiya Sangsad, as a part of an ongoing constitutional reform initiative to change the country’s legislature from a unicameral to a bicameral system. The proposal is tied to the July Charter on 2026 constitutional referendum, which would determine whether these reforms are adopted.

Background

Since independence in 1971, Bangladesh has had a unicameral legislature, the Jatiya Sangsad. After the political reforms following the July Revolution, the National Consensus Commission developed the July Charter, which proposes changes to the constitution, governance, and election framework and creating a bicameral parliament with a Senate as the upper house.
Under the July Charter implementation order which has approved and gazetted in November 2025, the Senate proposal is formally included as part of the constitutional referendum question to be held alongside the 2026 general election.

Proposed Structure

If implemented the Parliament of Bangladesh would be restructured into two chambers:

Functions and Powers

Under the charter’s framework:Legislative Review: The Senate would debate and suggest changes to bills passed by the lower house.Constitutional Amendments: Any constitutional change would require approval by a majority of the Senate, adding a check to constitutional revisions.
  • The Senate is not intended to duplicate the lower house’s functions but to act as a deliberative and revisory chamber.