Chief Whip ASM Feroz has urged the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) to exercise ‘highest caution’ while publishing any report on Parliament.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he termed ‘imaginary’ the TIB’s figure of ‘monetary loss’ due to absence of MPs in the first session of the 10th Parliament.
The corruption watchdog in its ‘Parliament Watch’ report, published on July 7, had stated that in the first session, quorum crisis lasted 17 hours and 7 minutes which, in monetary term, was equivalent to Tk 80.1 million.
It said only 1.8 percent of total session was spent on making laws.
The chief whip rejected the TIB claim and questioned its study method.
Referring to TIB’s figure of ‘monetary loss’, he said: “It’s not clear to us on the basis of what standard they’ve mentioned the figure.”
He said at the press conference held at the Parliament Members Club: “The activities of the Parliament Secretariat continue throughout the year, even if there is no session. A certain amount is spent on these activities no matter whether Parliament is in session or not.”
Feroz said the allegation of money being wasted because of a lack of quorum was ‘imaginary and deliberate’.
He said the TIB should have been more careful before publishing the report.
Asked if he rejected the report, the chief whip said, “No.”
“We aren’t rejecting the report. It contains many good and acceptable proposals. But there are certain sensitive issues,” he said.
He said certain comments about Parliament could create confusion among the people. “(TIB) has to be more careful about these matters.”
The ‘Parliament Watch’ report says the Jatiya Party, which is part of the government but forms the Opposition as well, cannot play an ‘effective’ Opposition role.
The chief whip described as ‘baseless’ the TIB observation about Jatiya Party role.
“Presence of an effective Opposition in the 10th Parliament is a milestone in the democratic advancement of this country,” he said.
Source: Bd news24
The crooks in the parliament are now threatening TIB. This AL government has destroyed every semblance of civility. This MAFIA Chief Whip has the gall to threaten a civil body in a bold public appearance. The country has gone to dogs.
Such is the state of governance dcecay in Bangladesh that instead of corruption monitors asking the corrupt for accountability, it is the corrupt that is questioning the integrity of the monitor. When will this nation wake up, more importantly, will it wake up at all?
The people of Bangladesh had once woke up and then fell into hibernation for indefinite period. Now it seems there is great scarcity of virility in Bangladesh. There are people, man and woman no doubt, but if there is any masculinity among those meek lamb-like people is a matter of great doubt. Had it been not so, the bulk people would have rose in revolt at the tyrannical rule that’s prevailing in there. The main opposition party is infested with gelded and greedy leaders and they can hardly raise their head in the face of government onslaught. Peace and democracy loving people seem to have no salvation from this juggernaught rulers.