Delwar seeks details of probe cost
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday demanded disclosure of the details of the amount spent for preparing the parliamentary probe report on the irregularities in Parliament Secretariat during the tenure of the then speaker Jamiruddin Sircar.
Delwar said formation of the parliamentary probe body was illegal and outside Jatiya Sangsad's rules of procedure. "So, there is no legal base of the suggestions of this committee," he said, warning of legal action if "parliament takes any decision on the basis of the report."
Meanwhile, talking to The Daily Star over telephone from Bogra, former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar yesterday said he would return the money taken from Parliament Secretariat if the Supreme Court asks him to.
He said he might also go to the Supreme Court to challenge the probe body recommendations as the probe committee has no legal basis and was not formed as per the rules of procedure.
Talking to reporters at his Armanitola residence, Delwar said, "People will not accept such wastage of public money… Details of how much money was spent to prepare the so-called probe report will have to be given one day."
Besides Sircar, Delwar is also accused of taking medical bills, additional fuel allowances and other facilities illegally when he was the chief whip.
An all-party parliamentary probe committee, headed by ruling Awami League lawmaker Fazle Rabbi Mia, placed a 784-page report in parliament on Thursday. It recommended taking legal actions against Sircar, the then deputy speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui and Delwar for taking around Tk 2.50 crore illegally during the tenure of eighth parliament.
Rejecting the allegations, Delwar said the probe report was "politically motivated" to belittle the opposition leaders. He said they will decide the next course of action after reviewing the report.
He claimed to have done everything during their tenure according to the rules of procedures of parliament. The incumbent speaker and the ruling party formed the probe committee violating the rules, he said.
"Such committee has no jurisdiction to recommend stripping anyone of parliament membership," he said.
The probe report has also suggested recovering the amount.
Jamiruddin Sircar rejected allegations of irregularities in recruiting employees at Parliament Secretariat.
"The quota system is applicable while recruiting at government offices. Parliament Secretariat is not part of the government," Sircar said.
In defence of receiving medical bills, Sircar cited the example of his predecessor Humayun Rasheed Choudhury who received Tk 35 lakh from the Parliament Secretariat against medical bills.
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