TIB questions effectiveness of parliament

Effectiveness of current parliament is still questionable as uses of vulgar and non-parliamentary words and quorum crisis remained unabated, main opposition still playing double role, it spent little time for legislative business, Transparency International Bangladesh alleged in its latest report on Sunday.

In a Parliament Watch report presented at a press conference, TIB said that in 433 occasions MPs used vulgar and non- parliamentary words to the rivals of within the house and in 2101 occasions lawmakers used vulgar and non-parliamentary words to the rival parties not represented in the house, in between 7th and 13 sessions of the current 10th parliament.

Though the report did not name of the rivals but a person engaged in the study said that exchange of vulgar and non-parliamentary words within the parliament took place between ruling Awami League and opposition Jatiya party MPs and they both attacked Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its alliances who were now outside the parliament.

Uses of vulgar and non-parliamentary words has increased as during the entire tenure of 9th parliament lawmakers used such words in 233 occasions and during tenure of 8th parliament vulgar and non-parliamentary words were used for 654 occasions.

Instances of non-parliamentary words to the rival parties not representing in the house were not found during the 8th and 9th parliaments, said Juliet Rossette,  said TIB programme manager and one of the presenter of study at the press conference.

There were lack of role from Speaker to stop using of vulgar and un- parliamentary words, said the report.

TIB trustee board chairman Sultana Kamal and its executive director Ifthekharuzzaman both expressed concerns about using of vulgar and non-parliamentary words at the house, while talking at press conference.

We have many questions and enough doubt about effectiveness of current parliament, said Sultana Kamal.

‘Party known as opposition in the parliament is trying to act as active opposition but their debatable double role in the house is continuing’ said Ifthekharuzzaman.

Source: New Age