National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Md Abul Hasnat, popularly known as Hasnat Abdullah, on Tuesday sought vehicles for Members of Parliament (MPs) to facilitate better communication with people in their respective constituencies.
He placed the demand taking floor in Parliament after State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam informed the House that a directive has been issued to Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) to prepare “visiting rooms” for the MPs in all Upazila Parishads.
“We have been given a place to sit (at every Upazila Parishad complex). Now, if a vehicle is arranged, it will be easier for us to reach people in our constituencies,” said Hasnat Abdullah, elected from Cumilla-4.
Hasnat ignites debate in House over content creator's arrest for post on Chief Whip
He said he usually speaks against the government but this time he rose to appreciate it. “We, the opposition, thank you as at least a sitting arrangement has been made,” he said.
Claiming himself as the second most junior MP in Parliament, the NCP lawmaker said UNOs and Upazila Parishad chairmen have official vehicles, but MPs often have to rely on rented transport, which they feel embarrassing for them to mention publicly.
In response, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said there was a directive from Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman that MPs would not be allowed tax-free vehicle facilities in line with public expectations. However, he said he would request the Prime Minister to consider the demand.
He said the Prime Minister had, at the very beginning of current Parliament, instructed that MPs would not take any special privileges beyond public expectations, saying an amendment would be brought to the existing law so that no member of this august House takes a tax-free vehicle.
Noting that opposition lawmakers gave claps to support for the demand, the Home Minister said the government is moving in line with public expectations and the issue of transport facilities for MPs could be discussed further.
He said the MPs are surely happy for getting the rooms at upazilas but now they might be unhappy if they do not get vehicles.
“So, I request the Prime Minister to take a suitable step following a separate discussion between the ruling party and the opposition on how to arrange transportation for Members of Parliament,” Salahuddin said.
Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman said a member from the opposition bench had raised the demand and the treasury bench had taken it into cognisance.
“I thank the treasury bench for taking the matter into cognisance and for considering steps toward its implementation,” he said, adding that younger members’ requests should not be turned down outright.
Later, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury said the opposition had earlier declared that they would not accept tax-free vehicles or government plots. He expressed hope that since the entire House appeared to be in agreement, a consensus decision could be taken in due course.