The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report on the Parliament is ‘biased and ill-motivated,’ said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud.
His remarks came on Thursday (Aug 29) during a discussion organised by Nazmul Huda-led Trinamool Bangladesh National Party.
“On Wednesday (Aug 28), TIB published a report on the workings of the 10th Parliament. There are a lot of mistakes in the report in terms of information,” he said.
“The report is biased and ill-motivated,” he added.
The Bangladesh chapter of Transparency International unveiled a report on Wednesday saying that a majority of the lawmakers are reluctant to discuss bills tabled in the Parliament.
The report said that only 12 percent time of the total 23 sessions of the 10th Parliament was allocated for discussions on bill, while India spent 32 percent of the time during the 16th Lok Sabha and the House of Lords spent 48 percent.
“We have seen in the past as well that TIB publishes ill-motivated reports. When World Bank was investigating graft allegations during the construction of Padma Bridge, TIB went a step ahead and published a report saying that those involved should be punished,” he said.
Mahmud said that a Canadian court later proved that World Bank’s allegations were untrue but TIB didn’t issue a public apology.
Saying that the TIB reports often has false information, he added, “We want criticism, it helps us do the right thing.
“But we don’t want biased criticism that’ll mislead the nation and run democracy to the ground.”
The minister then hoped that TIB will “publish right information and apologise to the nation.”
Slamming BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s comments on the government’s approach to the Rohingya issue, he said, “The government is walking the right path regarding the Rohingyas.”
He added that the government has increased international involvement but repatriation has failed as a few Bangladeshi non-government organisations and political party were playing games with Rohingyas.
Also Read:
