Be very careful: chief whip to TIB

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.