Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad today (15 November) said lawmakers have responsibilities beyond legislation, including ensuring transparency and accountability in government development projects.
“As public representatives, it is the responsibility of MPs to ensure transparency in government procurement and to remain engaged in the public procurement process so that public resources are used properly,” he said while addressing an orientation programme as chief guest at the Oath Room of the Jatiya Sangsad.
The programme, titled “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight on Sustainable Development Goals and Public Resource Management”, was held under the UNDP-implemented project “Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS)”.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal presided over the event, while Parliament Secretariat Secretary Barrister Md Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan delivered the welcome address.
Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and UNDP Resident Representative Steven Rodrigues spoke as special guests.
Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said the scope of government development projects has expanded, and so have the technical and related complexities of implementing them.
He expressed hope that the knowledge gained from the orientation workshop would play an effective role in establishing good governance.
The Speaker said the current parliament is working to fulfil the aspirations and expectations of people.
He said the democratic rights of citizens were undermined over the past 15 years through farcical elections, and that people are now looking to the elected parliament to build a prosperous Bangladesh.
He also thanked UNDP for its steadfast cooperation in the parliament’s development projects, describing it as an important partner of the government in development initiatives.
Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal said 153 members became MPs without being elected in the 2014 national election.
He said accountability and answerability of public representatives have increased in the elected parliament after 11 years.
“We have been able to drive out fascism, and we will be able to achieve the SDGs in the same way,” he said.
Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said monitoring only budget allocations and the volume of public expenditure would not be enough to implement national development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It must also be ensured that the benefits of allocated funds reach genuine beneficiaries, he said, adding that parliamentary oversight, transparency and accountability are crucial in this regard.
He said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has undertaken various programmes to alleviate poverty and improve people’s living standards, including the distribution of family cards, waiver of interest on farmers’ loans and introduction of farmer cards.
The main aim of these initiatives is to improve the socioeconomic condition of marginalised communities and play an effective role in achieving the SDGs, he said.
Whips and members of parliament, UNDP representatives, project directors and officials of the Parliament Secretariat, among others, were present at the event
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