A Jatiya Party and two independent lawmakers on Monday in Jatiya Sangsad came down heavily on finance minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali and state minister for post, telecommunication and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak for widespread corruption in their ministries.
JP lawmaker Mujibul Haque Chunnu, also opposition chief whip, and independent lawmakers Pankaj Nath and Hamidul Haque Khandker blasted the two ministers while speaking on a cut motion during the passage of the supplementary budget for the 2023鈥�24 fiscal.
The cut motion of the lawmakers was, however, rejected by voice vote and the supplementary budget of about Tk 37,817 crore for the outgoing FY 2024 was passed by the parliament by voice vote.
In the supplementary budget, 66 cut motions had been proposed on the sanctioned demands of 20 ministries and departments, but the discussion was on the Finance Division, finance ministry and Information and Communication Technology Division, following discussion with the opposition bench.
The rest of the proposals were put to vote by the speaker without discussion.
In his speech, Chunnu said that he had submitted proposal on the cut motion against the minister鈥檚 demand to increase the budget in favour of the finance ministry in protest at the massive corruption in the finance sector.
He said that the major task of the finance division and finance ministry was to supervise the banking sector and check corruption.
鈥業s the finance division or Bangladesh Bank supervising or taking any actions against the looting of people鈥檚 money, irregularities in the bank?鈥� he asked.
Chunnu said that PK Halder laundered around Tk 3,000 crores and left the country. Different big companies in different times took loans and then their interest was waived.
鈥楥an the finance ministry answer these questions?鈥� he asked.
Castigating the finance minister, the JP lawmaker said that Tk 2,200 crore of interest was waived, while the farmer was arrested for Tk 50,000 loan.
鈥榃hy should the ministry spend money if you can鈥檛 regulate the financial sector?鈥� he said.
The opposition chief whip said that money laundering was main reason for the dollar crisis.
Lambasting the former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, the Jatiya Party MP alleged that the previous finance minister disregarded to what he said in the parliament.
鈥楽top the corruption and irregularities. Businessmen, politicians, bureaucrats who have laundered money abroad, and have houses and hotels in Canada, Europe and America should be investigated and identified. Identify them even if you can鈥檛 bring back the laundered money,鈥� enraged Chunnu said.
Independent lawmaker Pankaj Nath demanded stern action against money laundering and loan defaulters. The current restriction on the opening of letters of credit needed to be lifted. It is important to restore order in the banking sector.
Another independent lawmaker Hamidul Haque Khandker said that there was no clear explanation as to why the Finance Division demanded additional money for it.
Praising the finance minister he called him honest and fearless.
鈥楾he money smuggled by Arafat Rahman Koko [late son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia] in the past has been brought back,鈥� he said.
Khandker hoped that those who had looted money would be brought back.
In response to the criticism of lawmakers, the finance minister said that the allegations regarding corruption and irregularities were generalised.
He, however, said that they were trying their best (to combat corruption).
While speaking on the cut motion on the ICT Division, Chunnu wanted to know whether the learning and earning projects of the division were running properly.
Chunnu highlighted media reports about the irregularities of Sheikh Hasina Software Technology聽Park in Jashore.
He said that named after the prime minister how the software park was used as a venue for hotel management, wedding ceremonies and other social events. He also questioned why its management was passed to a third party instead of establishing a government management authority.
鈥業f you open the box of Doyle laptop, you find a Chinese computer鈥攊s it not corruption?鈥� asked Pankaj Nath.
He asked what action was taken against putting low-quality Chinese computer in place of the Doyle brand laptop.
He also alleged that widespread irregularities were going on at the postal department.