Shameless bill default

The break-up is a tale of a spiralling curve of default, a Manhattan in unpaid bills for the use of residential telephones. Twelve MPs of the first Jatiya Sangsad (1973-75) accounted for Tk 78,440 in outstanding bills; 29 MPs of the 2nd JS (1979-82) owed Tk 2,58,900; 58 MPs of 3rd JS (1986-88) had Tk13,14,000 in dues; 114 MPs of the 4th JS (1988-90) owed Tk 1,04,83,200; 211 MPs of the 5th JS (1991-96) owed Tk 3,68,45,513; 220 MPs of the 7th one (1996-2001) accounted for Tk 3,07,19,202 in arrear bills. The payment backlog for all MPs in terms of using the JS PABX numbers amounted to Tk 2,92,83,720.The figures for the nearly two years of the current parliament are not represented here. These are yet to be compiled. The incorrigibility of default is sharply etched by 12 of the MPs having reportedly piled up arrears for the last 29 years! Surprisingly still, their lines were not disconnected, albeit in contravention of the rule applied in case of ordinary subscribers who are disconnected if they have Tk 2000 in dues or have not paid bills for three consecutive months.

All are equal in the eye of law, according to the Constitution of the Republic. The double standard in the application of telephone usage rules is discriminatory against ordinary citizens being unduly advantageous to the elected representatives from whom the public expect the highest standards of behaviour and conduct. The MPs, both as custodians of the constitution and lawmakers under oath should have the qualms to pay up their arrear telephone bills to set the records straight. They have not paid the dues despite drawing Tk 4000 as monthly telephone allowance. They owe it to the public now to clean up the image on the question once and for all.

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