UNB, Dhaka :Three bills were placed in Parliament on Monday, aiming to increase the remuneration and privileges of the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers.The Bills are: The President’s (Remuneration and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016, The Prime Minister’s (Remuneration and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and The Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers’ (Remuneration and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016.Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury who oversees the Cabinet Division in the Parliament placed all the Bills and these were sent to respective parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny. The Committee was asked to submit its reports within seven working days.As per the President’s (Remuneration and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the salary of the President will be Tk 120,000 from Tk 61,200. It also raised the insurance coverage for air journey to Tk 27 lakh from the existing Tk 15 lakh.Through the Prime Minister’s (Remuneration and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the monthly salary for the Prime Minister increased to Tk 115,000 from the existing Tk 58,000.It also says if the Prime Minister decides to reside in his own house or in any house other than the official residence, s/he shall be entitled to receive Tk one lakh instead of Tk 50,000.The Prime Minister while on tour shall be entitled to a daily allowance at the rate of Tk 3000 in lieu of Tk 1000 for each day of halt or part of a day of absence from the headquarters. For journeys by air the Prime Minister shall be provided with insurance coverage of Tk 25 lakh instead of Tk 14 lakh.The Bill also says there shall be placed at the disposal of the Prime Minister as discretionary grant an amount of Tk 1.5 crore from the existing Tk one crore per annum.
