The Local Government Division of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has sought a special allocation of Tk1,500 crore for members of parliament (MPs) to meet people’s immediate and urgent needs in their constituencies.
The proposed funds would come directly from the annual development funds of upazila parishads and city corporations.
Yesterday (10 November), Local Government Division Senior Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan sent two separate letters to Finance Division Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Majumder, proposing Tk1,320 crore for 248 MPs outside city corporation areas and Tk180 crore for 36 MPs representing city corporation areas.
Each MP would receive Tk5 crore.
In the letters, the senior secretary said the restoration of democracy through direct public voting after years of deprivation and discrimination has raised expectations among people, particularly those in marginalised communities.
He said people are bringing their small but urgent needs to MPs following the restoration of the parliamentary system. However, MPs’ existing discretionary fund of Tk5 lakh is insufficient to meet the growing demands.
The proposed allocation would be spent on education, renovation of religious institutions, assistance for meritorious students from poor families and disadvantaged people, and sports and cultural activities.
However, analysts have raised concerns that direct allocations to MPs could overlap or conflict with development activities undertaken by local government bodies, including upazila parishads, municipalities and city corporations.
They have also pointed to the risk of political influence and nepotism, arguing that such allocations could undermine the independence of local government institutions and divert MPs from their legislative and oversight responsibilities.
Bangladesh has previously provided special allocations and project funds to MPs. Analysts say placing such funds directly in lawmakers’ hands, rather than local government institutions, could go against decentralisation and raise accountability concerns.
Other development allocations for MPs
Separately, the government is taking up 16 projects, two for each of the country’s eight divisions, to develop MPs’ constituencies. One project in each division will cover urban parliamentary constituencies, while the other will cover areas outside cities.
Each constituency will receive Tk10 crore annually for five years, totalling Tk50 crore. MPs will be able to prioritise roads, bridges, culverts, markets and ferry terminals in their areas, with the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) implementing the listed projects.
A senior Local Government Division official said the projects have been sent to the Planning Commission for approval and will soon be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
In the past, MPs received block allocations of Tk15-20 crore per constituency for local infrastructure development. Funds have also been provided through the Local Government Division’s Annual Development Programme and special grants for union parishads and city corporations.
The government has budgeted Tk6,500 crore in separate special funds for social and rural infrastructure development in the current fiscal year.
According to the Local Government Division, Tk329 crore has been allocated to 3,253 union parishads this fiscal year, mainly for local transport and communication infrastructure projects nominated and recommended by MPs.
The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry also provides annual allocations under the Test Relief (TR), Food for Work (Kabikha) and Cash for Work (Kabita) programmes.
MPs receive rice, wheat and equivalent cash allocations under these schemes to support housing repairs for disadvantaged people and renovate religious and educational institutions. Rural roads and earth-filling projects are also implemented based on MPs’ preferences.
Special and discretionary funds of the prime minister are also used for social and religious infrastructure development in parliamentary constituencies.
The current fiscal year’s budget includes Tk20 crore for developing mosques, Eidgahs, and graveyards in constituencies represented by opposition MPs outside city corporation areas.
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