Primary obligation of  Parliamentary Committees is to make Parliament functional

When  a ruling party member of a Parliamentary Committee sermons about making parliamentary committee efficient and affective then one can only wonder about the true intentions. There is no anxiety about the fact that the Parliament itself is in a dysfunctional state. It has come out in the press that a new law will be passed for giving the parliamentary committees the power to compel government functionaries to appear before the committees. Though details of the law are not yet in the public domain. There may be devil in the details. It is argued the requirement of the supreme law the  constitution  must the obeyed.

If past experience is anything to go by some of our parliamentary committees were found over-enthusiastic for public spectacles and for public harassment of others. Personal reasons got prominence over national interest. It is felt that our parliamentarians must first acquire adequate knowledge about the functions of the Parliament itself. Basically, these committees are for helping the Parliament to transact Parliamentary business and not for holding public investigations on any matter or every matter. These are to remain under the control and supervision of the Speaker. These committees are not sovereign or unrestrained bodies. Much more keenness is required of the members of the parliamentary committees to rescue the badly  stricken Parliament itself.

As is the reality, our Parliament is exclusively swayed by  the party in power and therefore not functioning constitutionally. The Opposition members of the Parliament are not participating in the proceedings of the Parliament. Not only the Parliament is not functioning as the Constitution requires, it is full of contradictions. Those who do not join the Parliament as the opposition do not see any public wrong or violation of parliamentary values in enjoying all the financial benefits and other privileges as members of the Parliament. No work, no pay rule does not apply to politicians.

Both Awami League and BNP members of the Parliament when in opposition remain happily absent from the Parliament. Yet  they have no problem in enjoying all the benefits as MPs. As if MPs of the opposition are meant to remain busy with street violence. Nothing should be more disappointing for democracy than to see members of the Parliament themselves hindering the democratic  process so uncor stitutionally and so  flagrantly. [Read More]

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Source: The New Nation - Independent Daily