Dhaka, Aug 27 (BDNEWS)- Some of the would –be women lawmakers of the parliament's reserved seats Saturday expressed their frustration over the government's decision to curtail the facilities to import duty-free cars.
"I don't know why the government took the decision suddenly... and if we see any wrong with the decision, we, the newcomers in the parliament, will definitely protest it," Helen Jerin Khan, former leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of ruling BNP, told the journalists.
She, however, said that they would discuss the matter in the party forum and, if needed, raise it before the parliament.
In a circular on August 22, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said all new MPs will be allowed to import duty -free cars, but they would complete at least two years in the parliament for entitlement of cars.
The eighth parliament, which went into its first session on October 28, 2001, has only 14 months left to end its tenure.
Those who would be elected for the reserved seats are expected to join the next session of the parliament beginning on September 8. Their tenure will be a brief one as the present parliament has already completed nearly four years.
Another BNP candidate, Sultana Ahmed, who came to the Election Commission (EC) to file her nomination Saturday, expressed her disappointment, and said: We were deprived in the past for long ... and now will be deprived inside the parliament also.
"But, I think law should be equal for all," an angry Sultana said, adding: We will discuss the matter in the party forum and then will take the decision,"
Commenting on the matter, Shahana Rahman Rani, a ruling BNP candidate, who also came to the EC to file her nomination, said: In one sense, its a deprivation... we want the facility even for the short time we stay in parliament,"
"We will make appeal to the authorities concerned for the facilities," she added.
State minister for cultural affairs Selima Rahman, however, disagreeing with party fellows, said that she did not see any wrong with the government decision.
""We don't go there (parliament) for car... curtailing the facility of importing duty-free car is not a matter... we came here to be a member of the parliament ... want to take part in formulating laws ... I don't think that our right will be violated by this imposition on the import of the duty-free car," she added.
Many enthusiastic women aspirants for parliament considered it a profitable venture to become an MP despite high cost for nomination.
Each ruling BNP candidate had to deposit Tk. 3.40 lakh for taking part in the elections to the reserved seats for the women in the parliament.
A ruling BNP candidate paid Tk. 5000 for collecting party nomination forms while another Tk. 25,000 at the time of submission.
The 30 BNP female members, who were nominated for memberships in the parliament also had to pay Tk. three lakh each as donation to the party fund.
BDNEWS/ 2010 hrs
