Ex-info minister complains about being sidelined in JS Q&A session

Former information minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday expressed his grievance over not getting a reply to a question he submitted in parliament.

Speaking on a point of order, Azad, also chief of the parliamentary standing committee on planning, said, "I had the Right to Information Act passed in parliament for ensuring transparency and accountability. But it's an irony of fate that I didn't get an answer to my question."

"The question I submitted has been deferred thrice so far. How will the accountability and transparency of a ministry be ensured then?" he lamented.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury who was presiding over the sitting at that time asked Azad which was the ministry he submitted the question to.

"My question was related to the home ministry, and the home minister is sitting in front of me," the Awami League lawmaker replied.

He also said, "At first my question had been deferred until the next business day in November last year. Later on February 2, my question had been deferred again until the next business day. And today, my question has been deferred once again until the next business day. How is this going to help ensure accountability and transparency of the ministry?"

The former minister demanded the Speaker's ruling to get a reply of his question.

The Speaker assured him that she would look into the matter.