JP suffering from identity crisis: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh today said Jatiya Party has been suffering from identity crisis as an opposition party in the parliament and that they can overcome the crisis through playing their due role in the House.

“We call upon the opposition to play effective role in the budget session of the parliament [starts tomorrow] to ensure transparency and accountability of different development projects in the budget,” TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said.

He also said there is no real opposition party in this parliament.

He was addressing a pre-budget discussion with opposition Jatiya Party at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Talking to reporters outside the parliament, Dr Iftekhar said keeping provision of whitening black money in the budget is immoral and discrepancy. The government can set an example this year by shifting their present position on whitening black money.

In reply to TIB’s criticism, opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters that JP MPs are playing their due role in the parliament, adding that the TIB did not raise any confusion about our role in the parliament as opposition.

Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad called upon the TIB officials to come to the parliament through winning in the national election and play a role in the parliament in fighting corruption.

“You want a corruption free and accountable society. We are also working on it. We want people like you to come in the parliament not as an observer but as an elected MP,” Raushan said adding “Your role will be more effective if you come in parliament as MP”.

Meanwhile, the TIB today submitted an 11-point recommendation to Finance Minister AMA Muhith to ensure transparency, openness and accountability in the budget.

The recommendation includes release of all budget information specially budget allocation in defence sector, discourage block allocation in the budget, give priority to allocation in social safety-net programmes and projects, ensure accountability in implementing projects, disclosure of wealth statements of prime minister and members of the cabinet, advisers, MPs, justice, high-level government officials and politicians and update those on regular basis.

The recommendations were submitted through a letter to the finance minister.