Muhith faces MPs’ wrath over development project fund allocation

Finance Minister AMA Muhith today faced wrath from lawmakers in parliament repeatedly for his claim that projects below Tk 25 crore from block allocation are being implemented in various parts of the country.

Muhith urged the lawmakers to listen to him and said confidently that such projects are being implemented in different areas including his own constituency when the deputies shouted together disagreeing with his claim.

He asked the lawmakers to submit proposals properly, adding that the project proposals submitted appropriately already got approval and funds were disbursed accordingly.

He also said that his job is to allocate the money in the budget and it is the job of the Local Government Division to disburse it.

The issue came up for discussion when Awami League lawmaker Shamim

Osman placed a supplementary question saying the funds of the Tk 25 crore projects for 2014-2015 FY has not yet been released.

AL lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim also supported Shamim's claim saying that the fund has not been allocated despite what the finance minister claims.

Amidst lawmaker's thumping the desks, he said that no MPs sitting here in the house got the allocation yet.

“There might be some bureaucratic complexities,” he added. 

Selim urged Muhith to take initiative within a week to resolve the complexities since he has got the allocation.

Muhith took the floor again saying, “I stand by my previous statement” which irked the lawmakers.

After the Magrib prayer's break, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed took over the issue and said he has got information from the authorities concerned and it is sure that none including the finance minister got the allocation yet.

He said Development Project Profile that has been submitted earlier would go to the LGED tomorrow and once approved by the LGRD minister, the chief engineer would start implementing the projects accordingly.

Tofail tried to calm down the lawmakers saying that there is no reason to misunderstand. He also suggested that Muhith might have been misinformed to this effect.

The finance minister again took the floor and said allocation for such projects has been included in the LGED budget and he has nothing to do in this regard.

Muhith's statement made none of the lawmakers happy.