Legislator for Jatiya Party (JaPa) AKM Mayeedul Islam in the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday raised a question about a gift of a gold boat received by a state minister and wanted to know whether the law in this regard is in force.
The lawmaker (Kurigram 3) not mentioning anyone specifically said the incident of the gift was very embarrassing and due to an uproar in the media, the state minister later sold off the boat and the money was donated to an orphanage, which he termed a violation of law as well.
The MP said: “According to my knowledge, it is mandatory to deposit the gift to treasury (Toshakhana) if the price of any gift exceeds more than Tk500.”
“The Toshakhana Rules, 1974 is in force now and it is mandatory for the president, prime minister, speaker, deputy speaker, ministers and state ministers, MPs and government employees to deposit gifts priced more than Tk30,000 with the treasury,” the minister said in response to the question.