MPs slam TIB for ‘undermining’ parliament

Members of parliament, from both the ruling and the opposition parties, came down heavily on Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Monday for its recent remarks regarding the national parliament.

The MPs urged the speaker to summon TIB before the parliament to explain its observation on the national parliament, terming it a ‘violation of the constitution’.

The angry MPs also said in the parliament that TIB’s remarks were seditious may have been motivated.

On the other hand, TIB officials welcomed the discussion of the MPs in the House, saying that it will withdraw its statement about the parliament if it was wrong.

However, the local chapter of the Berlin-based global watchdog thinks it made no mistake in its previous statement over the parliament. The organisation said it is ready to help any measures taken by the parliament.

While releasing its report on Parliament Watch, TIB said the Jatiya Sangsad has turned into a puppet show and called for an inclusive elections for an effective parliament.

TIB said the main opposition, the Jatiya Party, failed to play its due role in the present parliament.

Terming the JP a so-called opposition, TIB said the party was working as a ‘B-team of the government’. 

Responding to TIB’s latest study and remarks, opposition leader in the parliament Raushan Ershad first raised the issue on Monday in the House.

She was followed by commerce minister Tofail Ahmed, agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, senior Awami League MP Suranjit Sengupta, former minister Abul Kalam Azad, JP MP Kazi Firoz Rashid and others.

During the discussion, prime minister Sheikh Hasina joined the JS session but she did not comment on the issue.

Lambasting TIB, Raushan Ershad urged the government to look into its activities. She raised questions whether it has any jurisdiction to make such derogatory remarks on the opposition and the House.

TIB has raised questions over the national election that was following the constitutional norms and termed the opposition ‘so-called opposition’. The organisation was silent when people were burnt to death (during the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami movement), she said.

“We invited TIB and they came to meet us in the parliament. Even after that, how can they call us so-called opposition? How can they say this?” Raushan Ershad said.

Taking part in the discussion, Tofail Ahmed urged the speaker to summon TIB before the privilege committee so that they can grill it on the source of its income and expenditure. He said the main objective of TIB was to upset the progress and independence of Bangladesh.

Accusing TIB of tarnishing the country’s image abroad, he said, “They should be summoned and questioned by the privilege committee on an immediate basis. Then we can ask questions.”

Tofail Ahmed also said, “Did TIB ever praise Bangladesh? They did not say a thing when Khaleda Zia tried to foil the 5 January election in 2014.”

He said, “I have said before that TIB has turned into a faction of BNP.”

Agricultural minister Matia Chowdhury said Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was the chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). Saber Hossain Chowdhury was president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Iftekharuzzaman never heard the name of CPA and IPU. How could he become a PhD holder without knowing these names?   

Criticising TIB, Matia Chowdhury said, “You called the parliament puppets. Wait for the elections after five years. You make moves when your strings are pulled. Your moves have objectives. You don’t speak when the martial law comes. This government is not loyal to the foreigners. You are.”

Suranjit Sen Gupta termed TIB executive director Iftekharruzzaman an ‘illiterate doctorate’, and accused him of speaking against the parliament and the constitution. This was sedition. He committed an offence by terming the parliament a puppet show.

He asked, “Is TIB above the constitution, parliament and government? Is the government and the parliament helpless before a NGO?”

He said it is a constitutional organisation. There is no way to go above the constitution and the parliament.   

Suranjit Sen Gupta said, “I want to give Iftekharuzzaman three days. Bow your head and seek apology immediately. Never speak about the constitution and the parliament ever again in your life. Otherwise, I will keep it all on record. The NGO named TIB will perishIf the parliament suspends
TIB, I can’t do anything. Even the PM can’t do anything. The parliament has that power.”  

Suranjit further said he has a file of an amendment regarding the foreign funded NGOs. The NGO officials spoke before the law ministry related parliamentary committee.

Pointing at the NGO officials, Suranjit said they want to give the NGOs their rights. But, why will they take the responsibility when the reputation of a sovereign parliament is ruined, a constitution is violated, and crime like sedition is committed.

Former cultural minister Abul Kalam Azad said TIB is criticising the parliament when the trial of war criminals is underway, when the country has achieved many things. We have the list of their trustee board. Now questions are raised about the people for and against the independence war.

Questions arise about their intellectual level and source of income.

Talking about measures against TIB,  Jasad MP Moinuddin Khan Badal said, “ Some painful operation is needed to keep the nation on the right track.”

Jatiya Party MP Kazi Feroz Rashid said that majority of the TIB Trustee members are AL minded. General Shafiullah took the most advantage after the Bangabandhu killing. Khandakar Mustaque and Zia are also the beneficiaries.   

TIB’s Comment

 Seeking TIB’s reaction on the comments of the parliament members, former advisor of the caretaker government Sultana Kamal told Prothom Alo, “People react this way when we make a report and it goes against them. A case was filed and TIB was threatened to be shut during BNP’s rule. It was said that TIB is now in AL’s pocket. Now they said it is in BNP’s pocket.”

Reacting to the parliament discussion, TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said, “Discussion in the parliament over TIB study proves its importance. We hope the parliamentarians will consider the information, analysis and recommendations mentioned in the study.”

Iftekharuzzaman said TIB is ready to support the parliament wholeheartedly over its study.