MPs given Tk70,000 for vehicle maintenance, but we don't have cars: Hasnat 

Cumilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah has once again raised a plea in parliament for official vehicles, pointing out that lawmakers receive a monthly maintenance allowance of Tk70,000, yet many lack the actual cars to maintain.

Speaking during an unscheduled discussion following the question-and-answer session today (22 April), Hasnat Abdullah proposed a shift from personal ownership to state-provided transport. 

He argued that an MP should use a government-owned vehicle only for the duration of their term, a move he claims would incur no additional costs.

"An MP will use a government-owned vehicle only for as long as they remain in office, and it will not even require extra costs. MPs are given Tk70,000 for vehicle maintenance, but we do not have cars," he said.

This follow-up comes after the State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam announced on 21 April that the government would establish well-furnished offices for MPs on the second floor of every Upazila Parishad building.

While welcoming the office space, Hasnat noted, "A place for MPs to sit has been arranged; now, it would be very good if a vehicle could be arranged for commuting. 

"Because we do not have cars, we have to travel to our constituencies in rented vehicles," he previously stated. 

His stance drew support from the Leader of the Opposition and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman.

Addressing what he termed "media confusion" regarding his earlier comments, the Cumilla-4 lawmaker today clarified that the 13th National Parliament is taking a principled stand against traditional perks.

"We will not take tax-free cars. I informed this parliament whether a system could be arranged for MPs to use vehicles in the same way that district council chairmen, upazila council chairmen, municipal mayors, deputy commissioners, upazila nirbahi officers and other officials receive a government vehicle to perform their duties," he clarified.

He emphasised that the decision to forgo personal plots and tax-free vehicle imports was a unified one. 

"The entire House has reached a unified decision regarding tax-free cars and plots. We will not take them. Every MP of this parliament has set a unique example in this regard... we will not take the facility of tax-free cars or plots."