Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Sunday expressed deep concern over the growing trend of boycotting parliament by opposition lawmakers.
The TIB called for enaction of a law to end the culture of parliament boycotts by opposition parties.
From the 8th to 15th session of the ninth parliament, opposition lawmakers were absent for 153 days out of the total 163 working days.
However, they drew their remuneration and enjoyed other benefits they are entitled to as lawmakers, the anti-corruption watchdog observed.
The opposition lawmakers’ absence from parliament since the start of the ninth parliament cost taxpayers Tk40.13m to date, said the Bangladesh Chapter of the Berlin-based anti-graft body at the release of a report on Sunday.
The report titled “Parliament Watch - 8th -15th sessions of ninth national parliament” recommended lawmakers should be allowed 30-days of consecutive absence from the House. The constitution allows a lawmaker to remain absent from parliament for 90 consecutive days before his/her seat falls vacant.
TIB also suggested amendment of article 70 of the constitution to uphold the right to freedom of opinion, to exercise the right to vote, and an increase in the number of sittings of parliament to 130 days a year.
According to the report, quorum crisis caused on an average 24 minutes’ delay each working day in the parliament resulting in wastage of Tk2 million each day.
Around Tk78,000 is spent per minute to run parliamentary activities every working day.
The research was conducted on the basis of eight sessions from 8th to 15th parliamentary sessions in the ninth Jatiya Sangsad.
It revealed 51 parliamentary committees formed during the tenure of the ninth parliament held a total of 1661 meetings while 158 sub-committees sat in 573 meetings during the same period.
Of the 51 committees, 14 are yet to submit their reports. The committees and sub-committees that came up with findings have made as many as 2500 recommendations till date.
The anti-corruption body, however, noticed a positive trend in the participation of parliamentary proceedings by female legislators.
Female lawmakers took more than 22 minutes during the question-answer session with the prime minister while 37 female lawmakers introduced motions to draw attention to the matters public importance, the TIB found out.
