Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has expressed discontent after most of the party lawmakers, who were elected unopposed in the 10th national election, ignored her repeated calls for donating Tk10 lakh to party funds.
In a meeting of the AL’s Election Steering Committee on December 21 last year, Hasina instructed the 127 party candidates to donate the amount to party funds, as they did not have to spend money to carry out campaigns.
Following the January 5 poll, the Central Working Committee and the Parliamentary Party of the AL also discussed the issue and decided to collect the money.
Among the 153 MPs elected unopposed, 127 were AL candidates.
Several central leaders told the Dhaka Tribune that the party chief, at the last Central Working Committee meeting on February 12, expressed discontent with those MPs.
The meeting discussed that the shortage of party funds was an impediment to the smooth staging of programmes, such as outstanding venue fare at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
The AL president enquired leaders on how to operate without the required donations, and asked the lawmakers concerned why they had refused to donate to the party despite earning enough money during the past five years, several leaders quoted Hasina as saying.
In the last two days, this reporter contacted around 20 AL lawmakers who were elected unopposed. Most of them said they were yet to donate the Tk10 lakh, but claimed that they would pay the money as early as possible as committed.
Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, who was also elected unopposed, refused to comment on the issue, and suggested to communicate with the party treasurer.
About the donations, Treasurer HN Ashiqur Rahman yesterday said the unopposed MPs had a scope to pay less than the amount since it was optional. He said some 20 lawmakers had already paid the money while others would follow.
“I went abroad and after my return I have been busy with the upazila polls in my constituency. So I cannot ensure the accurate figure of donation,” he said.
“Over the phone, a number of MPs has shown interest to donate to the party fund,” said Ashiqur, who himself was elected unopposed, and claims that he donated Tk10 lakh at the initial stage.
