Govt to allocate Tk 20 cr to each MP

DE Online Desk:
Each lawmaker of the 12th parliament will get Tk 20 crore to run development activities in their respective constituencies.
“Members of parliament make pledges to run development activities in their respective constituencies. So, Tk 20 crore will be allocated for each MP to fulfil the commitment,” LGRD minister Tajul Islam told parliament.
The country has a 350-member strong parliament, which has started its journey on January 30.
Taking the floor, main opposition Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Haque Chunnu told the House that the MPs made various election pledges before the people. In the past, a lump sum amount used to be allocated for the MPs.
“This is a new government. Whether the government will allocate any amount to the lawmakers for running development activities” he asked the House with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
Responding to the question, Tajul Islam said it is natural that the MPs would make commitment to the people for carrying out development activities in their respective areas.
“The MPs have the interest in fulfilling the commitments,” he said.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already taken the matter into cognizance. A project has already been outlined to provide each MP Tk 20 crore in next five years,” he added.
The LGRD minister said that the project would continue.
“If the ongoing project is completed, it will be considered for taking new projects to run development activities and fulfilling the commitment of the MPs,” he said.
The 12th parliament starts journey with a strong dominance by the ruling Awami League.
Amid the absence of the BNP, Jatiya Party (Ershad) has appeared as the main opposition in parliament for the third consecutive term, securing only 11 seats.
The JP played the opposition role in parliament for the first time in 2014 due to the BNP-Jamaat alliance boycott to the January 5, 2014 polls. It became the opposition in 2018 again despite BNP-dominated Oikya Front’s participation in 2018 polls. But the BNP-dominated Oikya Front was not recognised as opposition for not securing second highest number of seats.
The ruling AL won in 233 seats in the January 7 elections while JP got 11 seats and independent candidates got 62 seats.
Sheikh Hasina, who has taken oath as Prime Minister for the fourth consecutive term, is leading the House for the fourth term in a row.
Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader, elected from Rangpur-3 constituency, has been made the leader of the opposition for the first time.