The government has appointed a new whip to parliament raising the number of whips of the current 10th Jatiya Sangsad to seven.
The parliament secretariat has already published a gazette confirming the appointment of Mahbub Ara Begum Gini (Gaibandha-2) as the seventh whip who would enjoy the status of a state minister.
She will also enjoy full-time chauffeur-driven vehicle, seven personal staff, housing and other state facilities as enjoyed by the state ministers.
President Abdul Hamid Tuesday night signed the letter on her appointment.
The newly appointed whip is a distant granddaughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s husband Wazed Mia.
Atiur Rahman Atik, Shahiduzzaman Sarker, Iqbalur Rahim, Shahbuddin Ahmed and Solaiman Haque Joarder and Mahbub Ara will work under the leadership of Chief Whip ASM Feroz to maintain the discipline in the House.
Whips are considered very important in the administration of the assembly as the Leader of the House or her deputy passes the instructions through the whips. And any kind of miscommunication by whips can cause trouble in the House.
For instance, the ruling Awami League MPs in the last 9th parliament demonstrated furious reaction as the state minister for law Quamrul Islam requested an MP Benazir Ahmed to withdraw his proposal for trying those blocking the ongoing trial of the war criminals.
According to the parliamentary practices, the private-member resolution on any urgent issue is discussed in the House followed by a statement by the minister concerned.
In consultation with the leader of the house and prime minister, the whips pass on the instruction whether any private member would be accepted. If not, the whips ask the MPs concerned to withdraw the proposals.
