Article 82 President's recommendation for money measures
Recommendation for financial measures
It explains why private members cannot introduce Bills that cost public money, and why budget initiatives come from the government. Businesses lobbying for tax cuts can still find members to move reduction amendments.
A ministry prepares a Bill that would create a new scheme funded from public money. Before it can be introduced, the government must obtain the President's recommendation, which the President gives on the Prime Minister's advice.
The President signs a recommendation allowing the Bill to be introduced. Without it, Article 82 bars introduction, so a private member's Bill requiring public expenditure cannot proceed unless the government supports it. The recommendation is recorded when the Bill is introduced.
During debate on a Money Bill, a member moves an amendment reducing a tax rate. The proviso allows this without any recommendation, so the House can vote on lowering or abolishing a tax even against the government's wishes.
In plain English
How Article 82 works
Article 82 says no Money Bill, and no Bill that involves spending public money, may be introduced in Parliament without the President's recommendation. Because the President acts on the Prime Minister's advice, this in practice means only the government can bring forward proposals to tax or spend. There is one exception: in a Money Bill, a member may move an amendment to reduce or abolish a tax without any recommendation. This keeps control of the public finances with the executive, while still allowing members to argue for lower taxes.
In practice
Article 82 operates routinely: the Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill are introduced each year with the President's recommendation, as are other Bills involving expenditure. The Fifteenth Amendment in 2011 inserted the words "in any Money Bill" into the proviso, confining the exception for tax-cutting amendments to Money Bills. Private members' Bills seldom involve expenditure for this reason, and most financial legislation is moved by the Finance Minister.
The text
What Article 82 says
82. No Money Bill, or any Bill which involves expenditure from public moneys, shall be introduced into Parliament except on the recommendation of the President:
Provided that [in any Money Bill] no recommendation shall be required under this article for the moving of an amendment making provision for the reduction or abolition of any tax.
English text as published on the official Laws of Bangladesh website. The Bangla text is authoritative (Article 153). Where a court has changed the position, the status note above explains it.
History
Amendments
- Fifteenth Amendment 2011 →Inserted the words "in any Money Bill" in the proviso.
Connected provisions
Related articles
Questions
Article 82: frequently asked questions
Can a private member introduce a Money Bill in Bangladesh?
Not without the President's recommendation under Article 82, which in practice is given on the Prime Minister's advice. So Money Bills and Bills involving public expenditure effectively originate with the government.
Can MPs propose tax cuts without government approval?
Yes. The proviso to Article 82 lets a member move an amendment in a Money Bill to reduce or abolish a tax without any presidential recommendation. Whether it passes depends on the vote of the House.
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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