State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam on Monday assured opposition lawmakers that development allocations for mosques, temples, infrastructure and Union Parishads (UPs) in their constituencies would be delivered to the Leader of the Opposition’s office by Tuesday.
He also assured Parliament that development would be carried out equally across all constituencies.
The assurance came after National Citizen Party (NCP) MP Abdullah Al Amin alleged that while special development allocations had been provided to Union Parishads in constituencies represented by ruling party MPs, no such allocations had been made to UPs in opposition-held constituencies.
Speaking during a supplementary question in Parliament, Abdullah said the government on October 13 allocated special funds for the development of Union Parishads in constituencies represented by ruling party MPs.
However, he alleged that no Union Parishad in constituencies represented by opposition MPs had received such allocations.
The NCP lawmaker asked whether the government had received any report or taken any decision suggesting that development was needed only in constituencies represented by ruling party MPs, while Union Parishads in opposition-held constituencies had no such needs.
In response, Shahe Alam initially said he was unaware of any Union Parishad in the MP's constituency, as Abdullah had been elected from a metropolitan area.
Abdullah then raised his hand to indicate that there were Union Parishads in his constituency.
The state minister subsequently acknowledged that there might be one or two.
Addressing opposition lawmakers, he said development would be ensured equally in all constituencies.
"The allocation letters for the development of mosques, temples, infrastructure and Union Parishads in your constituencies will reach the Leader of the Opposition's office by tomorrow (Tuesday)," Shahe Alam said.
When opposition MPs sought to raise further questions, he urged them not to be disappointed, saying, "I am giving you my assurance for tomorrow. Please do not be disappointed."