JS quorum crisis causes loss of Tk 125: TIB

Though making laws is the main task of the parliament, its lawmakers spent nine percent time for this purpose in the 18th session of the current parliament continued till December last year, a study report prepared by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said today.

The TIB in its reports also revealed that the ruling Awami League has a total of 274 lawmakers in the parliament but the 18th session witnessed over 152-hour quorum crisis.

This means the House had to delay its proceedings by 30 minutes in every sitting on an average due to absence of enough lawmakers, causing a loss of around Tk 125.20 crore from the public fund.

According to the rules of procedures of the parliament, at least 60 lawmakers must be present for beginning the proceedings of the House.

The average quorum crisis in every sitting was 25 minutes in the eighth parliament and 32 minutes in the ninth parliament, said the TIB study.

Considering the budget allocation and expenses to run parliament, it was estimated that when the House is in session, it costs about Tk 63,686 per minute.

The cost includes the salaries and benefits of the parliament officials and its maintenance charges including utility service, the report said.

The study report, titled "Parliament Watch: 10th Jatiya Sangsad [14th to 18th session]”, was released in a press conference at the TIB office in Dhaka.

In the study, TIB said the participation of MPs specially the ruling party lawmakers in the law making process is notable as only 26 MPs participated while passage of 24 bills in total five sessions between 14th to 18th.

“A total of 23 hours and 28 minutes were spent to pass the bills which was nine percent of the total time spent during the five sessions,” TIB said citing an instance that in India it takes only 2 hours and 23 minutes on an average to pass a bill.

TIB also said opportunity of people’s participation in law making process is still very limited due to rejection of the proposal of seeking public opinion on the bills.

In eighth and ninth parliament average time for passage of a bill was 34 minutes and 28 minutes. The average time for passage of a bill in the present parliament [from 1 to 18th] is 35 minutes.

In the eighth parliament, 10 percent of the total time and in the ninth parliament 9.5 percent of the total time was spent in law making process, TIB added.

The total duration of 76 working days was around 260 minutes. Of the total time maximum 25.6 percent was spent on budget discussion while 24.7 percent time was spent on discussion on thanksgiving motion on the president’s speech.