TIB: JS spent only 1.8% time for lawmaking

Only 1.8% of total working time was spent on formulation of laws in the first session of the 10th parliament, according to a new study conducted by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).

The TIB revealed the study report titled ‘Parliament Watch,’ on the operation of the first session of the 10th parliament at a press conference at the capital’s BRAC Centre Inn on Monday.

The report cited that neighbouring India has spent 8% of total working time on both houses– Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha—in legislation.

The study says it takes only six minutes for the Bangladesh parliament to place and pass a bill, while only two public bills have passed in the first session of the 10th parliament.

According to the report, the overall attendance rate of parliament members in the first session was 64% while Leader of the House was present at its working sessions for 32 days (89%) and the main opposition leader for 14 days (39%).

The study shows that the quorum crisis claimed 17 hours and 7 minutes of the first session of the new parliament wasting about Tk8 crore of public money.

It estimated that about Tk78,000 is needed to conduct per minute of parliament session while about Tk21 lakh is wasted in every working day of the parliament as the session has experienced 28 minutes of quorum crisis in every working day.

The study also reveals that the participation of business people has increased to 59% in the 10th parliament while it was only 17% in the first parliament of the country.

The report was presented by TIB researchers Morsheda Akhter, Juliet Rogette.

TIB Chairman Sultana Kamal, Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present, among others.