Article 72 Sessions, prorogation and dissolution
Sessions of Parliament
This article sets the electoral calendar and stops a government from ruling for long without Parliament. The five-year limit and the 60-day gap rule are basic guarantees of accountability.
After a general election, the Election Commission declares the results. Under clause (2), the President must summon the new Parliament to meet within 30 days of that declaration. This stops any delay in handing power to the newly elected House.
The President issues a public notification fixing the time and place of the first meeting. In summoning, proroguing and dissolving Parliament, the President acts on the Prime Minister's written advice under the second proviso. The notification is published in the official Gazette.
Parliament meets in sessions. Between the end of one session and the first sitting of the next, no more than 60 days may pass, so the government cannot keep the House away for long periods.
Unless dissolved earlier, Parliament stands dissolved five years after its first meeting, and a general election follows. Only war allows an extension, by Act, one year at a time. When Parliament is dissolved, every MP's seat is vacated.
In plain English
How Article 72 works
Article 72 covers when Parliament meets and when it ends. The President summons, prorogues (ends a session) and dissolves Parliament by public notice, acting on the Prime Minister's written advice. No more than 60 days may pass between sessions. After a general election, Parliament must be summoned within 30 days of the results. A Parliament lasts five years from its first meeting unless dissolved sooner. In wartime its life can be extended by Act, one year at a time, but not beyond six months after the war ends. A dissolved Parliament can be recalled if war makes it necessary before a new election.
In practice
On 6 August 2024, after the Prime Minister left office, the President dissolved the 12th Parliament, and an interim government ruled until the February 2026 election. The 13th Parliament first met on 12 March 2026. The phrase in the first proviso referring to Article 123(3)(a) was inserted by the Fifteenth Amendment in 2011. The High Court Division in December 2024 voided the sections abolishing the caretaker system, the Appellate Division restored that system in November 2025 for future elections, and on 9 July 2026 it upheld the High Court verdict. bdlaws does not yet reflect these judgments, and how they interact with this proviso has not been settled in reported decisions.
The text
What Article 72 says
72. (1) Parliament shall be summoned, prorogued and dissolved by the President by public notification, and when summoning Parliament the President shall specify the time and place of the first meeting:
[Provided that [except the period of ninety days as mentioned in sub-clause (a) of clause (3) of article 123 for remaining term] a period exceeding sixty days shall not intervene between the end of one session and the first sitting of Parliament in the next session:
Provided further that in the exercise of his functions under this clause, the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister tendered to him in writing.]
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (1) Parliament shall be summoned to meet within thirty days after the declaration of the results of polling at any general election of members of Parliament.
(3) Unless sooner dissolved by the President, Parliament shall stand dissolved on the expiration of the period of five years from the date of its first meeting:
Provided that at any time when the Republic is engaged in war the period may be extended by Act of Parliament by not more than one year at a time but shall not be so extended beyond six months after the termination of the war.
...
(5) Subject to the provisions of clause (1) the sittings of Parliament shall be held at such times and places as Parliament may, by its rules of procedure or otherwise determine.
Key clauses shown. Omitted text is marked with an ellipsis; read the full text on the official site.
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
- Twelfth Amendment 1991Substituted the provisos to clause (1), requiring the President to act on the Prime Minister's written advice, and omitted clause (4A).
- Fifteenth Amendment 2011Inserted the words excepting the 90-day period in Article 123(3)(a) from the 60-day rule.
Connected provisions
Related articles
Questions
Article 72: frequently asked questions
Who can dissolve Parliament in Bangladesh?
The President dissolves Parliament by public notification under Article 72(1), acting on the Prime Minister's written advice. Parliament also stands dissolved automatically five years after its first meeting unless dissolved sooner.
How long is the term of the Bangladesh Parliament?
Five years from the date of its first meeting under Article 72(3). It can be extended only while the Republic is engaged in war, by Act, one year at a time, and never beyond six months after the war ends.
How soon must a new Parliament meet after an election?
Article 72(2) requires the President to summon Parliament within 30 days after the results of the general election are declared. After the February 2026 election, the 13th Parliament held its first sitting on 12 March 2026.
Sources
- Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Article 72 (Laws of Bangladesh)
- Bernama: Bangladesh President dissolves parliament (6 August 2024)
- Prothom Alo English: 13th parliament's first session begins (12 March 2026)
- Prothom Alo English: Caretaker govt reinstated as some provisions scrapped (High Court, 17 December 2024)
- Prothom Alo English: Restoration of caretaker govt (Appellate Division, 20 November 2025)
- Prothom Alo English: SC verdict upholds reinstatement of caretaker govt and referendum provisions (9 July 2026)
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.
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