JS whips ‘burn’ fuel of Tk 5m in a year

The chief whip along with six other whips of the Jatiya Sangsad (national assembly) used fuel worth over Tk 5 million in the last one year for jeeps they got from the House as an additional advantage.

Such high expenditure and use of vehicles by members of parliament raised serious questions about compliance with rules.

Whip Shahiduzzaman used petroleum of Tk 8,07,785, the highest, while Solaiman Haque Joardar used the least, fuel of Tk 2,19,925, revealed sources in the parliament secretariat.

The whips were provided the jeeps to facilitate travels in and outside Dhaka. Other than that, the government has provided a car for each of them for personal use.

According to the Bangladesh Whips Order 1972, the chief whip will be considered as in the same status of a minister and whip as in the same status of a state minister. According to the minister and state ministers’ remuneration and privileges act 1973, they get remuneration of Tk 53,568 for the car.

Mahbub Ara Begum was the last to be appointed a whip in September last year. However, she spent more than Tk 2.95 lakh on fuels for the jeep till last December while Tk 1.25 lakh was spent in the month of December only.

Officials affiliated with the parliament secretariat said a total of 73,760 kilometres could be travelled by this amount of petroleum measuring as four kilometres per litre (seven kilometres per litre outside Dhaka). It means the car has to travel 604 kilometres everyday on an average. Mahbub Ara is a member of the parliament from Gaibandha-2 constituency.

The parliament secretariat officials also referred to the act, which says using of the jeep has been said as an ‘additional advantage’ but the cheif whip and whips use it all the time as the petroleum expenditure of the vehicle is provided by the parliamentary secretariat.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury told Prothom Alo, “The government has provided them a car. It should be used to travel within Dhaka. They can use the jeep if they go out of Dhaka. Now we need to see who are using the vehicle and how.”

Chief Whip: Petroleum worth Tk 6,42,505 was used by the jeep of ASM Feroz last year (2014). He used petroleum worth Tk 16,192 in the first month (January 2014) as chief whip. The maximum he used was Tk 79,486 in March. He is a member of the parliament from Patuakhali-2 constituency.

A car has also been provided for the employees of the chief whip and other whips office. Petroleum expense of Tk 18,532 every month has been fixed for it. More than Tk 4.40 lakh has been used as petroleum expenditure on the car of chief whip’s office in a year. The highest of Tk 74,131 has been used in last July.

Talking to Prothom Alo, chief whip ASM Feroz said, “Me or my whips have to do plenty of running. The petroleum expenditure might have increased a bit for this. It was not possible to keep track of the individual petroleum expenditure.”

Whip Iqbalur Rahim: Iqbalur Rahim used petroleum worth Tk 6,10,012 in a year. He has travelled 1,52,503 kilometres in a year it seems, calculating four kilometres per litre. He is an MP from Dinajpur-2 constituency. His expense was Tk 6.668 in January but it was Tk 70,138 in December.

Atiur Rahman: This whip showed petroleum expenditure of Tk 6,44,732. He is an MP from Sherpur-1 constituency. His expense was Tk 13,665 in January but it stood Tk 66, 410 in December.

Atiur Rahman said, “I go to my village home every week. That is why the expenditure is high.”

Shahiduzzaman Sarkar: Whip Shahiduzzaman Sarkar burnt the highest quantity of fuel worth Tk 8,07,785, with which he was supposed to run 2,01,946 kilometres in a year. The MP from Dhamoirhat (Naogaon-2) constituency spent Tk 28,173 in January, but later the expense increased. 

Shahab Uddin: The MP from Juri upazila of Moulvibazar spent Tk 5,59,867 for fuel consumption. He was supposed to travel 1,39,966 kilometres with that large quantity of fuel.

He said fuel consumption rises as he has to go to his constituency frequently to attend various public functions.

Solaiman Haque Zoarder: The Chuadanga-1 MP spent the lowest amount, Tk 2,19,925, for fuel consumption. He spent Tk 35,847 in January, but only Tk 8,018 in December.

Parliament secretariat officials endorsed his fuel expenditure as acceptable, but in a fix about how to handle the huge expense made by other parliament whips.

They said the chief whip or whips do not comply with the rule of obtaining fuel sanction prior to any travel, and submit fuel bill with back-date in connivance with filling stations.

Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman said, “The situation developed because of legal ambiguity and lack of accountability. However, so much fuel expense of the whips is unethical.”

Concerned rules should clearly mention fuel expense ceiling for individuals, he added.