Technocrat minister and introduction of a bill in the parliament

The word “technocrat” stands for an expert in science, engineering, etc. who has a lot of
power in politics and/or industry. The term “technocracy” is derived from the Greek
word “tekhne” meaning skill and “kratos” meaning power. So the technocracy is system
of government where decision maker is selected on the basis of their expertise and
power in their areas of responsibility particularly scientific knowledge. This system
explicitly contrasts with the notion that elected representative should be the primary
decision makers in the government.
Neither the term “technocrat” nor “technocracy” has been contained in the Constitution
of the People’s Republic of the Bangladesh. However, Article 56 (2) of the Constitution
states that “The appointments of the prime minister and such other ministers, ministers
of state and deputy ministers, shall be made by the president: Provided that not less
than nine-tenths of their number shall be appointed from among members of
parliament and not more than one –tenth of their number may be chosen from among
persons to be qualified for election as members of parliament.”
The aforesaid article suggests that one-tenth of the total number of the prime minister,
other ministers, deputy ministers and state ministers may be chosen from outside of the
members of parliament who have the qualifications to become a member of parliament.
It seems that the true content of the term technocrat or technocracy has been set out in
the self-contained provisions of the aforesaid article.
On the other hand, the term “Bill” has not also been defined in the constitution. It has
only been referred in article 80 (1) of the constitution that every proposal in parliament
for making a law shall be made in the form of a bill. But the word “bill” has been defined
in the Rules of Procedure of Parliament of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as “ a
motion for making a law” (Rules of Procedure, Rule 2 (1) (b)).
The crucial question of, whether a technocrat minister can introduce a bill in the
parliament has been complicated by a number of factorsFirstly, the definition of the word “motion” given in the Rules of Procedure of the
Parliament provides that it is a proposal made by a member for the consideration of the
parliament relating to any matter which may be discussed by the parliament and
includes an amendment. The term “member” has further been defined as a member of
the parliament (Rules of Procedure, rule 2(1)(o)). It becomes clear from the above
definition that for introducing a bill in the parliament, a minister has to be a member of
the parliament. It may, therefore, put a bar on a technocrat minister to introduce a bill
in the parliament.
Secondly, article 11 of the constitution provides that-“The republic shall be a democracy
in which fundamental human rights and freedoms and respect for the dignity and worth
of the human persons shall be guaranteed and in which effective participation by the
people through their elected representatives in administration at all levels shall be
guaranteed.” So if a bill is introduced in the parliament by an unelected representative
like technocrat minister, then the question may, of course, arise as to how it would
ensure the effective participation of the people through their elected representative in
the parliament.