MPs demand funds

The above demands for funds and the finance minister's reported assurance for allocating funds through project mechanism have given rise to some important questions.

First, Bangladesh follows a centralised planning system. We have a planning commission for preparation of national plans -- annual, rolling, five year, perspective -- for the economic and social development of the country. Government undertakes development projects for implementation through annual development programme (ADP) mechanism with both domestic resource and foreign assistance. Planning Commission prepares ADP in consultation with the relevant ministries and their agencies. A project has to pass through feasibility test, technical analysis, economic analysis, financial analysis, social analysis, environmental analysis, etc. for inclusion in the ADP. In the instant case, there is every possibility of bypassing the established procedure of project approval and implementation. This will set a very bad precedent.

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Second, the fundamental principle of planning is the allocation of scarce resources to meet the priority demands. To maximise economic output, resources must be allocated by a mechanism that takes full account of their relative scarcity and costs. Allocation of Tk. 2 crore for the constituency of each member of parliament (MP) will entail an expenditure of TK. 600 crore for 300 hundred constituencies. The women MPs to be shortly elected against the reserved seats will come up with the demand for such funds. In that case, the expenditure will stand at Tk. 700 crore. This is undoubtedly a big amount for our resource hungry economy.

Third, while the importance of development of rural roads cannot be undermined, we have at the same time to assess the priority needs of different constituencies. The priority of demands varies from constituency to constituency. For instance, there are some constituencies where road communication is more or less satisfactory but they lack electricity for income generating activities. There are others whose primary concern is protection from river erosion and floods. There are still others where primary health care and education are in deplorable condition and they need the highest allocation. So allocation of funds to MPs either in cash or through project mechanism for undertaking construction of rural roads in their constituencies may miss the basic concept of utilisation of scarce resource to meet the priority needs.

Fourth, the national economy is passing through a critical stage. The skyrocketing of prices of oil in the international market has put our economy under severe strain. Import of large quantity of foodgrains has added an extra pressure on the budget. Depreciation in the value of taka against the US dollar has made the imports dearer. High rate of inflation has made the lives of the poor and the fixed wage earners miserable. The situation demands austerity in the non-development expenditure of the government on the one hand, and careful selection of development projects on the other. Under the prevailing economic condition, the request of the MPs for allocation of funds to construct roads in their constituencies thus deserves little consideration.

Fifth, the MPs have come up with the demand for allocating funds just ahead of the forthcoming general election. We have a year or so for holding general election of the MPs for the 9th parliament. The motive for asking funds at this time is an open secret. The spending of the funds ahead of the general election will serve more the political interest of the sitting MPs than the public interest. There is strong possibility that the funds will not be properly utilised. More importantly, the MPs will make it a point for their publicity. In the interest of fair play, there should be a level playing field for all the candidates in the forthcoming general election.

Sixth, the constitution of Bangladesh and the rules of procedure (ROP) of parliament made thereunder have delineated the functions and responsibilities of the MPs. Making of law, investigating or inquiring into the activities or administration of the ministries as members of the standing committees on various ministries, and speaking in parliament on matters of public interest are some of the most important functions of the MPs. To discharge the assigned functions, the MPs have to keep themselves busy in the house and within its precincts whether the house is in session or not.

With the involvement of the MPs in development works in the capacity of advisers to the upazila development and coordination committee, attending the parliament sittings has ceased to be a priority to many MPs. This is evident from the repeated quorum crises in the sittings of parliament. The recent press reports show that the meetings of the parliamentary standing committees on ministries are being postponed due to quorum crises. If funds are allocated to the MPs even through project mechanism for constructing and developing roads in their constituencies, this will give them another excuse to remain absent from the sittings of parliament as well as from the meetings of the parliamentary standing committees.

Seventh, for undertaking construction and development of rural roads and public buildings, there are government agencies such as LGED and PWD. Why will then the government allocate funds to the MPs for constructing and developing rural roads?

Eighth, the involvement of the MPs in local development works has already invited severe criticisms from the civil society members. It is being said that people have, in fact, elected 300 executives in place of 300 legislators in the general elections. An MP has a strong say in all local development activities including those executed through the local government bodies. He must have the last say in all developmental matters within his constituency. This is against the fundamental spirit of strengthening the local government bodies.

Last but not the least, the involvement of the MPs in local development works is at variance with the functions and responsibilities assigned to them by the constitution and the ROP. The framers of the constitution and the ROP were conscious enough to specify the functions and responsibilities of the lawmakers. Therefore, the functions of the MPs must conform to the functions and responsibilities entrusted to them by the constitution and the ROP. If the MPs are required to be involved in local developmental activities, necessary amendments will have to be made first in the constitution and the ROP.

The above discussion suggests that the demand of the MPs for allocating them funds for constructing and developing roads, culverts, etc. in their respective constituencies does not deserve consideration primarily due to the present unfavourable economic condition and the general election knocking at the door. In its editorial of August 13, the Bangla daily Prothom Alo thus wrote that when many people dubbed the budget presented in parliament in June last as the election budget, the finance minister commented that election budget meant people's budget. The MPs got the inner message from the comments of the finance minister. They were coming with the demands for crores of taka in the name of public welfare activities. The finance minister did not reject their demand outright. His indifferent attitude did not deserve support. The finance minister should ensure that the MPs could not spend the public money for election publicity. Prior to the forthcoming general election, no funds should be allocated to the MPs that were not planned in the budget.

M. Abdul Latif Mondal is a former Secretary to government.