Parliament Costs More Than Tk 300,000 a Minute: What Does the Nation Get in Return?

❐ Staff Reporter

According to a report by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and parliamentary accounts, the 11th National Parliament spends an average of Tk 272,364 (approximately Tk 272,000 to Tk 3.5 lakh) per minute. Currently, this expenditure has exceeded Tk 3-4 lakh due to the increase in technology and ancillary costs compared to the previous period, according to information received from various relevant sources.

What is the nation actually getting from this huge expenditure managed with the hard-earned money of the state’s citizens? Such questions have been raised in conscious circles during recent parliamentary activities.

Such questions have become even more pressing after a video of a prayer ceremony to oppose the Awami League was shared on social media at the beginning of the fourth session of the 13th National Parliament on Monday, November 9.

State Minister for Religion Shamim Kaiser Lincoln conducted a prayer ceremony on behalf of the ruling government, which is worried about the return of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina to her homeland.

He prayed in the National Parliament to prevent the Awami League from returning to politics and to prevent anyone from trying to bring Sheikh Hasina back.

At the same time, he also prayed to Almighty Allah to grant him the ability to fulfill the expectations with which the people of the state look to the parliament.

In his prayer, he said, “O Allah, the Lord of the worlds, grant us the ability to expel the fascist. And if someone tries to bring that fascist back, may we be able to resist him. May we be able to implement what everyone in the country is looking to in this parliament.”

Such activities are drawing intense criticism on the internet. Questions have been raised about whether the National Parliament is the place for such activities and whether it is responsible to bring politics into religion.

Earlier, the session began at 3:38 pm in the Parliament Chamber of the Parliament Building under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The State Minister for Religion offered this prayer at a stage of conducting prayers at the beginning of the fourth session.