Article 77 Ombudsman
Ombudsman
An Ombudsman gives citizens and businesses a low-cost way to challenge maladministration without going to court. Whether the office actually operates affects how easily ordinary complaints against officials can be resolved.
Parliament enacts a law creating the office of Ombudsman and setting out its powers, including the power to investigate the action of any ministry, public officer or statutory authority, as Article 77(2) requires. Without such a law, the office cannot exist, because Article 77 only permits Parliament to create it.
A person who believes a government office has acted unfairly, delayed without reason or abused its power files a complaint with the Ombudsman, instead of starting expensive court proceedings. The complaint sets out what happened and what remedy the person wants.
The Ombudsman examines files and asks officials to explain their actions, using the powers given by the law. At the end, the Ombudsman can find maladministration and recommend a remedy to the authority concerned. Its recommendations carry public weight.
Each year the Ombudsman prepares a report on the discharge of the office's functions, which is laid before Parliament under clause (3). Members can then debate it and press ministries to act on the findings it records.
In plain English
How Article 77 works
Article 77 allows Parliament to create the office of Ombudsman by law. The Ombudsman is an independent official who investigates complaints about government action. Parliament decides the powers and functions, which must include the power to investigate actions taken by a ministry, a public officer or a statutory public authority. The Ombudsman must prepare an annual report on the work done, and that report is laid before Parliament. The article is permissive: it says Parliament "may" create the office, so it does not by itself oblige the State to appoint an Ombudsman.
In practice
Parliament passed the Ombudsman Act in 1980, but, as commonly reported, a general Ombudsman has never been appointed under it, so Article 77 has had little practical effect. Complaints against public bodies tend instead to go to sector bodies, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Human Rights Commission or the High Court Division under Article 102. Activating the Ombudsman has been raised repeatedly in reform discussions, including after 2024, but no office had been set up as of 2026 reporting.
The text
What Article 77 says
77. (1) Parliament may, by law, provide for the establishment of the office of Ombudsman.
(2) The Ombudsman shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as Parliament may, by law, determine, including the power to investigate any action taken by a Ministry, a public officer or a statutory public authority.
(3) The Ombudsman shall prepare an annual report concerning the discharge of his functions, and such report shall be laid before 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.
Connected provisions
Related articles
Questions
Article 77: frequently asked questions
Does Bangladesh have an Ombudsman?
Article 77 permits Parliament to create the office, and an Ombudsman Act was passed in 1980. As commonly reported, however, no general Ombudsman has been appointed, so the office has not functioned in practice.
What can the Ombudsman investigate under Article 77?
Any action taken by a ministry, a public officer or a statutory public authority, together with other powers Parliament gives by law. The Ombudsman reports annually to Parliament on the discharge of these functions.
Sources
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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