10 more parliamentary committees formed; no opposition lawmaker gets chairmanship

Ten more parliamentary standing committees on different ministries have been formed, with senior BNP leaders and other lawmakers being appointed as chairmen.

The proposals to form the committees were approved unanimously by voice vote in parliament yesterday (2 September), with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal in the chair.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni proposed the formation of the committees one by one on behalf of the leader of parliament.

The Agriculture Ministry-related Parliamentary Standing Committee will be headed by BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy.

Cumilla-2 BNP lawmaker Salim Bhuiyan has been made chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the education ministry, while reserved seat lawmaker Selima Rahman will head the committee on the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

Khulna-3 BNP lawmaker Rakibul Islam has been appointed chairman of the committee on the road transport and bridges ministry.

Comilla-4 lawmaker Abul Kalam Azad will chair the committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, while Sunamganj-5 lawmaker Kalim Uddin Ahmed will head the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

Dhaka-2 lawmaker Amanullah Aman has been appointed chairman of the committee on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Habiganj-3 lawmaker Md GK Gouse will head the committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, while Moulvibazar-3 lawmaker Nasser Rahman will chair the committee on the Ministry of Land.

Jhalakathi-1 lawmaker Rafiqul Islam Jamal has been appointed chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Each committee includes the relevant minister as well as lawmakers from different constituencies as members.

However, none of the 10 committees has an opposition lawmaker as chairman.

'Opposition got 26% committee membership but no chairmanship'

Earlier, Opposition Leader Shafiqul Rahman had demanded opposition representation in committee chairmanships in proportion to its strength in parliament.

After the committees were formed yesterday without any opposition lawmaker being made chairman, Deputy Opposition Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher expressed his frustration.

He said the opposition and the government had reached an understanding on giving the opposition 26% representation in committee membership based on its strength in parliament, but no representation was given to the opposition in the chairmanships.

Responding to Taher, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said neither the Constitution nor the Rules of Procedure of Parliament require opposition lawmakers to be made committee chairmen in proportion to their seats.

He also said that the opposition had been given 26% more representation in committee membership based on political understanding.

The formation of the committees is part of the process of establishing the parliamentary oversight mechanism following the formation of the new parliament.

Parliament has 50 standing committees in total, of which 39 are related to ministries and 11 to parliamentary affairs.

So far, 25 of the 50 committees have been formed, including 19 ministry-related committees.

Parliamentary standing committees scrutinise the activities of ministries, examine bills and review issues referred to them by the House.

The committees can also seek information from ministries and make recommendations on matters concerning their respective areas.

The remaining committees are expected to be formed in phases.