Parliamentary committee softens stance on cancellation of NAM flat allotment

Despite a warning from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that any MP who does not make use of their allotted NAM flat at the MP buildings would have to vacate it, the parliamentary committee in charge of executing the order has made little headway.

Only four of the 30 MPs asked to leave their NAM flats have responded to the letters sent by the committee in May.

The letter stated that a failure to respond would lead to a summons by Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

But, one month later, chief whip ASM Feroz told bdnews24.com that only ‘eight to ten MPs’ have responded to the letter.

“They say that though they do not live in the flats throughout the year, they make use of them when parliament is in session.”

Several media sources have reported that MPs often use the allotted flats to house their personal secretaries or drivers.

Ten buildings and 292 flats in the capital’s Manik Mia Avenue and Nakhalpara have been allocated by the parliamentary secretariat to provide housing for MPs.

An initial list compiled by the parliamentary committee found 91 MPs did not live in their allotted flats, but used them to house servants, personal secretaries or drivers.

The committee then identified 30 MPs and delivered them notices cancelling their allotments.

On Apr 15 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had warned all MPs who did not live in their allotted flats and that spurred the committee to action.

On Jul 26 last year,  letters had been delivered to lawmakers who had been allotted flats but did not use them. Another letter was sent on Apr 23  last year.

After speaking to members of the parliamentary committee and some of the MPs involved, it was found that some of the MPs had responded in writing to the letters and had then met the parliamentary committee to discuss the issue.

Some MPs say that though they do not stay at the flats overnight, they do spend time there and that their personal staff and other officials live in the flats. Some of the MPs have residences in their constituencies and say they live in the flats when parliament is in session.

On condition of anonymity one MP from Rangpur said:

“Sometimes we have to stay in the area when parliament is not in session. If we give up the flat, where in Dhaka would we stay? One of my employees stays at the flat and looks after it when I am not there. I have informed the committee of the situation. Let us see what happens.”

Asked whether the committee was willing to be flexible on the issue, ASM Feroz said: “This parliament has about one-and-a-half years left to complete its term. Elections are to be held before January 2019. It is a bit difficult to ask them to vacate now.”

“We believe the rules will change completely once the new parliament is formed. But we will stress one point – those who have other homes in Dhaka will have to give up their flats.”

“The matter was not given much consideration,” the committee chief said when asked why those with Dhaka residences were allotted flats.

“We did not want the flats to lie idle.”

Feroz did not say how many MPs were willing to give up their flats.