Robert McCarter, author of Louis I. Kahn, described the National Parliament of Bangladesh as one of the twentieth century's most significant buildings.

[3] In 1959, commander-in-chief Ayub Khan seized power in Pakistan through a military coup and imposed martial law.

[5] Kahn submitted a preliminary design of the proposed building in Dhaka in 1960, which was approved by the government and land was acquired for its construction in 1961.

In 1974, three years after the independence of Bangladesh, the third Mujib ministry decided to continue construction without changing the original design.

[7] In 2016, the third Hasina ministry decided to by bringing the original design from Louis Kahn's partner Henry Wilcots.

[8] On 6 October 2016, to restore the original design, the government announced to move the graves situated at the parliament area which includes the mausoleum of Ziaur Rahman.

[7] On 7 December 2016, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist party, alleged that by restoring the original design and removing the structures except the parliament building and the crescent lake, the government wants to reinstate the flag of Pakistan at the parliament area.

The architect's key design philosophy was to represent Bengali culture and heritage, while at the same time optimizing the use of space.

The exterior of the building is striking in its simplicity, with huge walls deeply recessed by porticoes and large openings of regular geometric shapes.

An artificial lake surrounds three sides of the main building of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, extending to the Members of Parliament hostel complex.

It was not belief, not design, not pattern, but the essence from which an institution could emerge...[17]The lake on three sides of the Bhaban, extending up to the Members' hostel, adds to the site's aesthetics and also portrays the riverine beauty of Bangladesh.

All nine blocks include different groups of functional spaces and have different levels, inter-linked horizontally and vertically by corridors, lifts, stairs, light courts, and circular areas.

This chandelier in turn consists of a metallic web, spanning the entire chamber, that supports the individual light fixtures.

It gradually rises to a 20' height and serves as a beautiful exterior as well as the main entrance (used by members during sessions) to the Parliament Building.

Although entrance to the Bhaban, the main building, is limited to authorized members of Parliament and staff, the Jatiyo Sangshad complex is always open to visitors.