Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Lawmakers come down heavily on caretaker govt

No need of caretaker system, says Suranjit
Lawmakers came down very heavily on the immediate past caretaker government for making a Taka 94,140 crore additional budgetary allocations for the fiscal 2008- 2009 as the general discussions on supplementary budget continued in the Jatiya Sangsad [JS] for the second day yesterday.
They said, despite enough allocations in the supplementary budget, the caretaker government could not attain desired development of the country because of its lack of efficiency and skills. ‘Even they could not properly spent the allocation that forced them to slash the size of strategic ADP from Taka 25,600 crore to Taka 23,000 crore”, they observed.
Taking part in the general discussions, AL lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta alleged that the caretaker government had resorted to “cruellest repressions” on political leaders of the country.
Senior Awami League parliamentarian Suranjit fired a salvo at Fakhruddin’s caretaker government he dubbed apolitical, unconstitutional and repressive, disagreeing to pass the supplementary budget part spent by that interim regime.
Participating in general debate on the supplementary budget for the outgoing fiscal 2008-09, he named the two-year emergency regime as IMF-a trio of Iajuddin, Moinuddin and Fakhruddin.
Sengupta wondered how they would approve “the three Uddins’ budget” as their emergency regime “imposed the budget on the nation, vilified politicians, arrested and tortured them on false charges and ransacked politics with a vile mission of introducing a perverted politics”.
He mentioned the names of Deputy Leader Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Sheikh Selim, Kazi Zafrullah, Abdul Jalil, Tofael Ahmed and Eng Mosharraf Hossain who were either jailed, tortured or harassed by the Fakhruddin government. Even, he said, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina was interned for 11 months under their rule.
He said if they had right to vote on this budget of Fakhruddin, they would never do it.
Sengupta, who is one of those who took a stand for political reforms during the interim period, contended emergency in perpetuity is nowhere mentioned in the Bangladesh constitution and nowhere in other democracies of the world.
“One may cite the ‘doctrine of necessity’, but it must be validated by the Supreme Court, as done in 1979,” he told the House.
He was also critical of Khaleda Zia’s coalition rule, calling it ‘KTN (Khaleda, Tarique, Nizami)’ government responsible for not only price spirals during their rule but also responsible for the killing of former Finance Minister SAMS Kibria, Ahsanullah Master and Ivy Rahman and charging grenades on Sheikh Hasina and himself on August 21.
The seasoned parliamentarian vehemently opposed the provision of caretaker government, saying that they can no longer trust this system to put the country again under emergency. He said after the governing of the country for five years, the election commission will conduct the elections.
He said the Fakhruddin government does not deserve any credit for preparing voter list or holding free and fair election. Fair voter list and fair election were arranged in the wake of people’s demand, and the election commission conducted it accordingly.
Sengupta was critical of the Finance Minister for not adequately mentioning in his budget speech the Fakhruddin government’s anti-democratic activities. He said the Finance Minister in his speech only stated “little farsightedness” of that government.
“Was it the result of only ‘little farsightedness’?”
He questioned, and hoped that the Finance Minister would incorporate this sentiment in his concluding speech on the budget.
He said that the rich tradition and heritage of our superior courts were tarnished during the caretaker administration.
Sengupta, who is also the presidium member of Awami League, alleged that the caretaker government lodged various cases against the politicians to undermine them in society.
“Caretaker government made desperate attempts to destroy country’s politics,” he said adding ” There is no need of the caretaker system of governance in the country.”
Treasury bench member and Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said neither the present government nor the present finance minister prepared this supplementary budget. But for the sake of continuity the present government would have to own the budget, he added.
Referring to the move to impose a so-called ‘national charter’ by the caretaker administration, Rashed Kahn Menon said the credit of holding a world-wide acclaimed free, fair and neutral election mainly goes to the general masses who at the very first chance gave their mandate in favour of a democratic force.
Menon alleged that in a move to implement the IMF’s ‘agenda’ the caretaker government rendered workers jobless and shattered the country’s total economy.
Referring to the anti-corruption drives of the caretaker government, Menon said ‘it was in fact launched not against corruption, but the politics as a whole. “While criticising the caretaker government for its failure in streamlining its moves, we have to bear it in our mind that under no circumstances we should stop our crusade against corruption and other vices,” he observed.
Another treasury bench lawmaker and president of JSD Hasanul Haq Innu, while paying some tributes to the caretaker government, said in its supplementary budget efforts were made to bring national economy out of the grip of ‘free market economy’ just at a moment when other nations had to surrender to this vicious domain.
He said allocation of Taka 300 crore in power sector, reducing interest rate on bank’s loan, protecting RMG (readymade garments] sector from being sick industries, reducing rate of inflation from 9.9 per cent to 7 per cent were some of the bold steps of the caretaker administration.
He, however, said that the administrative machinery of the caretaker government was undisciplined and inefficient. The reasons behind reducing ADP’s size were the lack of efficiency of the government.
The other parliament members taking part in the general discussions on the supplementary budget included Junaid Ahmed Palak [ Natore], Salma Islam [Mohila seat], Mahbub Ara Gini [Gaibandah], K. M Khalid [ Mymensingh], Tanvir Shakil Joy [Sirajganj], Begum Sanjida Khanom [Dhaka], Zillul Hakim [Rajbari], Abdullah Al Islam Jacob [Bhola], Ranjit Kumar Roy [Jessore], Moazzem Hossain Ratan [Sunamganj], Omar Faruque Chowdhury [Rajshahi], Mohammd Abdul Wadud [Rajshahi], Dr. Hmaida Banu Sova [Mohila seat], Talukder Mohammad Yunus [Barisal], Jahirul Haq Bhuyian [Narsindi], Mohammad Merajuddin Mollah (Rajshahi) and Begum Zinnatunessa Talukder (Mohila seat).
The participants observed that the caretaker government had created a total uncertainty in country’s political arena. They said it should be properly examined how such a big amount of money allocated in the supplementary budget was spent.
They also criticised various ‘misdeeds’ and ‘misrules’ of the BNP-Jamaat alliance government and said that the present administration has to carry many legacies of that regime.
They highlighted various achievements of the present government during a short span of time and observed that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina it has successfully arrested price hike of essentials including rice and supplied fertilisers and other agri-inputs to the farmers on time.
In an unequivocal term, the participants lauded the finance minister for courageously presenting the proposed national budget 2009-2010 and the supplementary budget for the fiscal 2008-2009.
 
Courtesy of AGENCIES, DHAKA

Related News

Sajek, Khagrachari now open to visitors after being closed for over a month

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The tourism restriction imposed in Sajek valley of Rangamati and Khagrachhari for over a month was lifted today allowing visitors after 45 days. Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mosharraf Hossain Khan announced the lifting of travel bans at the popular Sajek Union in Baghaichhari Upazila. Similarly, the Khagrachari Deputy Commissioner has also lifted ... Read more

Tourist access to suspend in St Martins in February

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has decided that tourist access to Saint Martin’s Island will be suspended in February to protect the island’s fragile ecology and ensure environmental preservation. Tourists will be allowed to visit the island from November to January, with overnight stays prohibited in November. In December and January, tourists can stay ... Read more

Public univs to accommodate 37pc GPA 5 achievers

Shahin Akhter Around 63 per cent of examinees securing a Grade Point Average of 5 in this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent examinations will not be able to get admitted to the public universities across the country due to lack of seats. Though the private universities in the country have sufficient seats to accommodate ... Read more

297 killed by lightning in eight months

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 297 people have been killed and 73 injured in incidents of lightning strikes across the country between February and September this year, according to Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum (SSTAF). In the eight months, lightning strikes killed 152 people while they were doing agricultural works, SSTAF said ... Read more

Flood death toll climbs to 59, over 5.4 million affected

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Fifty-nine people, including 41 men, six women and 12 children, died in the devastating flood as deaths of five more people were reported on Saturday. So far, 14 deaths have been reported in Cumilla, six in Chattogram, 23 in Feni, nine in Noakhali, three in Cox’s Bazar, and one each in ... Read more

Flood death toll reaches 13, 4.5m affected in 11 districts

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Around 13 people have been killed and 4.5 million affected by floods in 11 districts of Bangladesh, the disaster management and relief ministry said Friday, reports AFP. Thousands of people awaiting emergency rescue remained beyond electricity and mobile network coverage as a flash flood unleashed by heavy rains and an onrush ... Read more

Bangladesh ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia freed

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been officially released. Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was released on Tuesday, a day after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as PM and fleeing the country amid an unprecedented student-led mass uprising against her authoritarian regime. The decision was revealed ... Read more

Eid-ul-Azha on June 17

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The holy Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated in Bangladesh on June 17 (Monday) as the crescent moon of the Zilhaj month was sighted in Bangladesh’s sky on Friday evening (7 June). The National Moon Sighting Committee came up with the decision after reviewing information about the sighting of the moon at a ... Read more

Cyclone Remal: 40 dead animals found, 17 rescued hurt in Sundarbans

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The forest department officials on Tuesday said that so far they found 39 dead deer and a pig in the Sundarbans after the severe cyclone Remal that hit the forest on Sunday. Primarily they have estimated infrastructural damage of Tk 6.27 crore in the forest while the total damage, including animals ... Read more

Cyclone Remal claims at least 14 lives, affects nearly 37.58 lakh people in 19 districts

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Following its devastating impact into Bangladesh on Sunday night, Cyclone Remal has affected over 37.58 lakh people in 19 districts and taken at least 14 lives. While the cyclone has weakened into a deep depression, hundreds of villages in the southern parts of the country remain submerged. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department ... Read more

Alert issued as Cyclone Remal develops

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A weather alert has been issued by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) as a low-pressure system in the southwest and west central Bay of Bengal gains strength, potentially developing into Cyclone Remal by Saturday. The system, currently moving northeastward, is expected to transform into a depression by early Friday. By Saturday, ... Read more

Cyclone ‘Remal’ likely to hit Bangladesh coasts on 26 May: Meteorologist

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Cyclone Remal is likely to make landfall between 6:00am and 12:00pm on 26 May in Bangladesh, affecting coastal areas from the Barguna in Barishal Division to Cox’s Bazar in the Chattogram Division, a meteorologist said today (21 May). The front of the cyclone may begin to enter coastal areas after 6:00am, ... Read more

5 consecutive days holiday for Eid-ul-Adha

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Government employees are scheduled to get five consecutive days off on Eid-ul-Azha. This includes two days of weekly holidays (Friday and Saturday) followed by another three days for Eid, according to government holiday list. Eid-ul-Azha is likely to be celebrated on June 17 this year.

Heavy rains, storms forecast for entire week

Schools open today after heatwave closures News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecasts heavy rainfall with thunderstorms across the country this week, starting on Tuesday and lasting through Saturday. As per the analysis of mathematical model of rainfall index, Bangladesh is likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorms starting ... Read more

Waiting for the rain

Tawsia Tajmim As the sun blazes relentlessly, desperate craving rises for rain, for nothing soothes Mother Nature quite like its cool embrace. After a brutal month-long heatwave, residents of Chattogram, Sylhet, and Dhaka finally caught a break with some rain on 2 May. However, the downpour was not strong enough to completely wash away the ... Read more

Hajj registration extended till Jan 18

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government, in a notice issued yesterday, extended the Hajj registration deadline for 2024 until January 18. It said aspiring Hajis would have to primarily deposit Tk 2.05 lakh, while the rest should be paid by February 29 for final registration. One has to pay Tk 5,78,840 under the general package, ... Read more

Dense fog disrupts communications across Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Cold and dense fog continued to disrupt life with road, air and waterways communication remaining suspended in the early hours of Tuesday as Bangladesh braces for this winter’s first cold wave likely to set in today. Authorities also confirmed until Tuesday the death of 14 people in cold-related diseases and road ... Read more

27,000 GPA 5 achievers not to get seat in public universities

Shahin Akhter Over 27,000 GPA 5 achievers in this year’s HSC and equivalent examinations cannot be admitted to the public universities due to fewer seats. A total of 92,595 examinees secured GPA 5 out of total 10,67,852 passed in the Higher Secondary Certificate examinations this year. But there are around 65,400 seats at the public ... Read more

Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jolts Dhaka, other parts of Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Bangladesh this morning, the United States Geological Survey said, with no immediate reports of damage. The earthquake jolted different parts of the country including Dhaka around in Ramganj of Cumilla at 9:35am, reports The Daily Star quoting Meteorologist Rubayet Kabir of Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The quake ... Read more

250cc Bajaj Pulsar N250 launched in Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Uttara Motors, the manufacturer and distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Bangladesh, has recently launched The Pulsar N250 motorcycle. Pulsar N250 comes with a price tag of Tk339,999 and is available in three different colours. The motorcycle with a 250 cc oil-cooled engine has got dual channel antilock braking system (ABS). Indian ... Read more