A parliamentary body yesterday asked the communications ministry not to allow Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan to meddle in its affairs.
Meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the standing committee on the communications ministry also blasted Shajahan for advocating issuing driving licence to uneducated drivers.
"The parliamentary body has recommended taking necessary measures so the shipping minister does not say anything about the communications ministry's business," says a press release issued from the parliament secretariat after the meeting.
Golam Maula Rony, a member of committee, said the committee members believe the shipping minister's unwarranted interference and remarks are tarnishing the communications ministry's image.
The committee decided not to invite Shajahan Khan at its meetings as he speaks as a labour leader despite holding the shipping portfolio, he added.
In the past, the shipping minister joined the committee meetings and spoke grossly as executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Labour Federation.
On August 17, he attended a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the labour and employment ministry as labour leader.
"If he wants to attend the meetings, he can do so as a labour leader. The committee in that case will not entertain him as a minister," said Rony, an AL lawmaker.
The standing committee will complain to the prime minister if the shipping minister interferes again in the communications ministry's business, he added.
At the meeting, the parliamentary body directed the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority to place a report on the allegations of issuing over 1.75 lakh fake driving licences under political pressure in the past.
It also asked BRTA to explain why those fake licences will not be cancelled.
The committee also decided to thoroughly investigate the allegations of corruption and irregularities in the Roads and Highways Department.
A three-member sub-committee led by Golam Maula Rony will probe corruption in the RHD. It has been asked to come up with a report as soon as possible, said Omar Faruk Chowdhury, a member of the committee.
The probe body will also examine claims and counter-claims by the finance minister and the communications minister over allocation and disbursement of funds for repairing the roads.
BNP lawmaker Nazrul Islam Manju demanded that Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain quit for his failure to repair the roads.
In reply, Abul Hossain said his ministry could not do the repair job in time due to lack of funds.
The ruling party lawmakers said resignation is not a solution. Besides, they observed, the minister now seems much sincere about resolving the problems.
Source : The Daily Star
