"Cars for MPs"
This note I write in response to a letter by Ms. Urmila, Doha, Qatar ( DS, 22-05-2009).
Buying cars for the MPs by the government is a very wrong decision. An MP should be allowed a first class air, train or steamer ticket to attend parliament in Dhaka and within Dhaka and only taxi fare to travel on duty in Dhaka should be given. From MPs' hostel min-buses or buses may be used to shuttle the MPs free to and from their hostel to the parliament house. Or, why not allow an MP a fixed travel allowance keeping in mind the actual distance from the MP's constituency to the parliament house? I consider such a privilege very wise and by doing so a huge public fund may be saved and misuse of car by the MP could be avoided.
Buying cars for the MPs is a very sinful luxury. No sensible government could allow it. But who says there is much sense and sensibility in the activities of the Bangladesh government? The other day the government sanctioned a car for every upazila chairman that will cost over Tk 30 lakh each, whereas a chairman's salary is about Tk 12,000 or so a month. Is there an iota of logic or common sense in allowing such a privilege?
I support the idea of allowing duty-free brand new car import by a Non Residential Bangladeshi (NRB) on condition that the car is imported for personal use when the NRB returns home for good and must not be sold out within three years. The importer NRB must have proper documents while importing the car proving that he/she has worked at least 3 years and earned money in a foreign country and that, he/she has bought the car from own income. This privilege must not be used for making money by any NRB.
We must, again, be very clear who is actually an NRB. An NRB does not mean a Bangladesh origin foreign citizen with a foreign passport or people with dual citizenship. NRB means a Bangladesh citizen, born and brought-up in Bangladesh and carries a valid Bangladesh passport but living and working in a foreign country with restricted residence permit.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments