Article 80 How a Bill becomes law
Legislative procedure
This is the route by which every statute affecting rights, business and tax comes into force. The deemed-assent rule means the President can delay a Bill briefly but cannot veto it.
A minister or a private member introduces a proposal for a law in the form of a Bill, as Article 80(1) requires. The Bill is usually sent to the relevant standing committee, which examines it and reports back before the House debates it in detail.
Members debate the Bill clause by clause, consider amendments and vote. A simple majority of members present and voting is enough for an ordinary Bill. Once passed, the Bill is sent to the President for assent under clause (2).
Within 15 days the President either assents or, unless it is a Money Bill, returns it with a message asking Parliament to reconsider it or particular provisions. If the President does nothing, assent is deemed given when the period expires.
If returned, Parliament reconsiders the Bill with the President's message. If it passes again, the President must assent within seven days or is deemed to have assented. The Bill then becomes an Act of Parliament and is published in the Gazette.
In plain English
How Article 80 works
Article 80 sets out how laws are made. Every proposal for a law must be introduced in Parliament as a Bill. Once Parliament passes it, the Bill goes to the President for assent. The President has 15 days to assent or, except for a Money Bill, to send it back asking Parliament to reconsider all or part of it, with any suggested amendments. If the President does neither, assent is deemed given. If Parliament passes a returned Bill again, with or without changes, the President must assent within seven days, or is deemed to have assented. The Bill then becomes an Act of Parliament.
In practice
Presidents rarely return Bills, and most become law well within the 15-day window. The Fifteenth Amendment in 2011 substituted clause (3) and removed the requirement that a returned Bill be passed again by a majority of the total membership. Between the dissolution of Parliament in August 2024 and March 2026 no Bills could be passed, and law was made by Ordinance under Article 93. In March and April 2026 the 13th Parliament used the Article 80 procedure to pass 87 Bills validating 113 of the interim government's ordinances, as reported.
The text
What Article 80 says
80. (1) Every proposal in Parliament for making a law shall be made in the form of a Bill.
(2) When a Bill is passed by Parliament it shall be presented to the President for assent.
[(3) The President within fifteen days after a Bill is presented to him, shall assent to the Bill or, in the case of a Bill other than a Money Bill, may return it to Parliament with a message requesting that the Bill or any particular provisions thereof be reconsidered, and that any amendments specified by him in the message be considered ; and if he fails so to do he shall be deemed to have assented to the Bill at the expiration of that period.]
(4) If the President so returns the Bill Parliament shall consider it together with the President's message, and if the Bill is again passed by Parliament with or without amendments [***], it shall be presented to the President for his assent, whereupon the President shall assent to the Bill within the period of seven days after it has been presented to him, and if he fails to do so he shall be deemed to have assented to the Bill on the expiration of that period.
(5) When the President has assented or is deemed to have assented to a Bill passed by Parliament it shall become law and shall be called an Act of Parliament.
English text as published on the official Laws of Bangladesh website. Where a court has changed the position, the status note above explains it.
History
Amendments
- Fifteenth Amendment 2011Substituted clause (3) and omitted from clause (4) the words requiring a returned Bill to be passed again by a majority of the total number of members.
Connected provisions
Related articles
Questions
Article 80: frequently asked questions
How does a Bill become law in Bangladesh?
Under Article 80, a Bill is introduced and passed by Parliament and then presented to the President. The President assents within 15 days or returns it for reconsideration. Once assented, or deemed assented, it becomes an Act of Parliament.
Can the President veto a Bill in Bangladesh?
No. The President may return a Bill, other than a Money Bill, once for reconsideration. If Parliament passes it again, the President must assent within seven days, and failing that assent is deemed given, so there is no absolute veto.
Sources
- Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Article 80 (Laws of Bangladesh)
- The Financial Express: JS completes ratification of 113 ordinances (11 April 2026)
- Bernama: Bangladesh President dissolves parliament (6 August 2024)
This guide explains the Constitution for general understanding. It is not legal advice. Constitutional reform proposals under discussion in 2026 are described as proposals until enacted.
Constitutional and writ practice
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