Dhaka Bureau: Most of the parliamentary committees of the 11th National Parliament are not effective. Committee meetings are not held on time. Many important committees do not even meet 2-3 times a year. However, as per the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, every parliamentary committee is obliged to hold at least one meeting a month. It also said that if a member is absent from two or more consecutive meetings without the permission of the committee, a motion can be brought in the parliament to remove that member from the committee.
After reviewing the committee meetings, it was found that four years of the 11th National Parliament have passed, as each parliamentary committee is supposed to hold 48–50 meetings, but only two committees have held more than 50 meetings. One of his ‘Committee on Public Accounts’ held 103 meetings, and the Parliamentary Committee on the Shipping Ministry held 53 meetings. And the library committee has held a minimum of five meetings. The president of the parliamentary committee related to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain, went abroad 10 months ago, so there was no meeting of this committee. Again, 7-8 committees, including Parliamentary Committees on Finance, Food, Posts, and Telecommunications, and Private Member Bills and Resolutions, held 10 or fewer meetings.
On January 30, 2019, 50 parliamentary standing committees were formed within 10 working days of the start of the current parliament. Among these committees, 39 are related to ministries. The remaining 11 committees are subject-oriented. Although the committee was formed quickly, most of the committee did not show much activity. Although there is a rule to hold at least one meeting a month, except for a couple of committees, none of the committees meet every month. Again, many times committee meetings are canceled due to a quorum crisis when only three members are present.
According to sources in the Parliament Secretariat, most of the parliamentary committees have not met as per the rules in the last four years. Only two ministerial parliamentary committees have held 50 or more meetings. 8 committees held less than 10 meetings. 25 committees met between 10 and 19. Among them, the least number of meetings were held: Library Committee (5), Committee on Private Member Bills and Resolution Proposals (8), Parliamentary Committee on Food Ministry (9), Parliamentary Committee on Posts and Telecommunications (10), Parliamentary Committee on Finance Ministry, Parliamentary Committee on Information and Broadcasting Ministry (10), Committee on Industry Ministry (13), Parliamentary Committee on Textile and Jute Ministry (13), Parliamentary Committee on Local Government Rural Development and Cooperative Ministry (13), Parliamentary Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts (14), Parliamentary Committee on Chit Besides, the Parliamentary Committee on the Ministry of Commerce, the Parliamentary Committee on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Committee on Ministry of Education, Parliamentary Committee on Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Labour, Primary and Mass Education, Ministry of Religion, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Standing Committee on Government Undertakings, Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Petition Committee, and Rules of Procedure Committee held less than 19 meetings. But these committees were supposed to hold more than 50 meetings in the last four years.
And more than 30 meetings have been held by the presidium member of the National Party. The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (103), chaired by Rustam Ali Faraji, was followed by the Parliamentary Committee on Ministry of Shipping (53) chaired by Major (Retd.) Rafiqul Islam (Bir-Uttam) MP, the Parliamentary Committee on Electricity, Water and Mineral Resources (37), the Committee on Women and Children Affairs (37), the Parliamentary Committee on Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (34), and the Parliamentary Committee on Ministry of
Regarding the importance of the committee meeting, the former whip and the president of the parliamentary committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs said Shahiduzzaman Sarkar said the importance of parliamentary committees is immense. Parliamentary committees monitor the ministries so that they do not act arbitrarily, do their work properly, and are accountable in every case. They have to answer to the parliamentary committee. However, it is very important to hold regular meetings of parliamentary committees. But unfortunately, due to the COVID pandemic, there were no regular meetings in the last 2 years. Parliamentary committees monitor the projects undertaken by the ministries. And as a result, there is accountability in the activities of the ministry.
The Speaker of the National Assembly commented that it is important to have regular meetings of the committee. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury He said the importance of parliamentary committees is immense in parliamentary democracy. Because the parliamentary committee plays a role in holding the ministries accountable for the activities they undertake and the projects they undertake, Speaker said, I know that most of the committees hold regular meetings. Attention will be drawn if any committee cannot meet regularly due to special reasons.
Basically, the main task of the parliamentary committee is to review the work of the ministries under its jurisdiction and to investigate irregularities and serious complaints. It is also the work of the parliamentary committee to scrutinize the bill and give advice or recommendations to the ministry. But in reality, the ministries do not follow any recommendations of the parliamentary committee. And if the committee does not accept their recommendations, there is nothing to do. Rather, there are allegations that many committees are trying to take various benefits from the ministry.
According to the minutes of the parliamentary committee, personal matters are also being discussed in the committee. Wants to travel abroad at the expense of the ministry, go to Hajj, etc.
Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said, “We have not received the National Parliament as an area of accountability as it should be. There is no scope for check and balance as the ruling party is a monopoly.
He said the effectiveness of the parliamentary committee depends on the character of the legislature. People are losing interest in Parliament due to the lack of strong opposition parties.
He said the role of the parliamentary committee in holding the ministries activities accountable is undeniable. But our parliamentary committees do not seem to be playing that role. Moreover, the ministries do not implement the recommendations of the committee very much. Due to these reasons, the parliamentary committees are not able to play the expected role.
