Editorial
Public interest motions in JS
Allow more space for debate
It is discomforting news that notices relating to matters of public interest are mostly rejected in the Jatiyo Sangsad. In the last two years more than four thousand motions have been rejected by the House. Even matters of serious issues like citizens' security, renovation of Dhaka-Chittagong highway and law and order situation etc., were not taken up.
Notices are served both by the ruling party and opposition law makers under article 71 of the rules of procedures. Everyday between thirty and fifty notices are served but only three are accepted. And fifteen, among the rejected notices are allowed to be raised in the House with two-minute time slot for each speaker but not adopted for discussion.
This is a disappointing situation for laymen, let alone the constitutional and parliamentary experts. In parliamentary democracy it is the merit and importance of the issue that must get precedence over who tables a motion.
True given the time constraints the speaker would need to be selective but that does not necessarily mean that so many public interest related issues would be set aside. The picture has been similar in the last four parliaments. Motions that could be embarrassing to the government were generally not allowed for discussion irrespective of party in power.
We feel that any serious topic of public interest should be taken up for discussion whether it is from the ruling party or the opposition lawmakers. That is where the test of speakers' impartiality and ruling party's allowing space to the opposition lies.
Usually the motions are centered on problems facing the public or a development project in which a constituency is involved. That is why such matters deserve attention of the authorities concerned at a high level.
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