Parliament on Wednesday formed the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, making Opposition Deputy Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher as its chair.
This marks the first time a Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami MP has been appointed chairman of a parliamentary standing committee.
Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni proposed the formation of the 15‑member committee, which was later adopted unanimously under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal.
Other members are Amanullah Aman (Dhaka‑2), ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan (Lakshmipur‑4), AKM Fazlul Haque Milan (Gazipur‑5), Md Hafiz Ibrahim (Bhola‑2), AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon (Noakhali‑1), Md Jalal Uddin (Chandpur‑2), Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman (Mymensingh‑7), Sk Azizul Baree (Khulna‑4), Md Monjurul Islam (Dinajpur‑1), Md Fazley Houda (Naogaon‑3), Mohammed Zakir Hossain (Mymensingh‑5), Syed Joynul Abedin (Dhaka‑4), Md Ruhul Amin (Chuadanga‑2) and Md Anwarul Islam (Kurigram‑1).
The Public Accounts Committee is considered one of the most important parliamentary committees. Its responsibilities include oversight of state expenditure, audit objections, and accountability in public accounts.
After the passage of the budget, the committee examines how government funds are spent, what irregularities are flagged in audits, and how ministries and agencies respond to those findings.
In the discussions of the National Consensus Commission, one of the four parliamentary committees agreed to be chaired by the opposition was the Public Accounts Committee.