bdnews24.com :
NGOs operating in Bangladesh may soon find themselves in trouble with the law for making ‘defamatory comments’ against Parliament, the Constitution and the State.
The standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs is mulling over inserting a provision in the ‘Foreign Donation Regulation Bill’ that will recommend punishment for such offence, its chief Suranjit Sengupta said on Tuesday.
“We’ve considered including a provision allowing the government to take steps against NGOs if it feels any of their comments have demeaned Parliament, the State or the judiciary,” he said. His comments came a day after Parliament hosted a heated discussion criticising the Transparency International, Bangladesh and its Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman for dubbing the legislature a “puppet show stage”.
The Bill, tabled in Parliament on Sep 1, was sent to the standing committee for scrutiny. It gained momentum after the TIB executive director’s disparaging remarks about Parliament.
At an unscheduled discussion on Monday, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed demanded dragging the TIB to Parliament for the comment. The TIB said it was ready to cooperate with Parliament. Sengupta on Tuesday said, “The NGOs have become parallel to the government and the State. They don’t have that right.”
“Some of Dr Iftekhar’s comments are unacceptable and defamatory.” “Who are you to call Parliament at “puppet show”? You are an NGO who is funded from abroad. What you’ve said is filthy,” the senior Awami League leader said. He asked the TIB to withdraw its comment in three days and w “They have crossed all social, legal and constitutional lines,” he said.
NGOs operating in Bangladesh may soon find themselves in trouble with the law for making ‘defamatory comments’ against Parliament, the Constitution and the State.
The standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs is mulling over inserting a provision in the ‘Foreign Donation Regulation Bill’ that will recommend punishment for such offence, its chief Suranjit Sengupta said on Tuesday.
“We’ve considered including a provision allowing the government to take steps against NGOs if it feels any of their comments have demeaned Parliament, the State or the judiciary,” he said. His comments came a day after Parliament hosted a heated discussion criticising the Transparency International, Bangladesh and its Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman for dubbing the legislature a “puppet show stage”.
The Bill, tabled in Parliament on Sep 1, was sent to the standing committee for scrutiny. It gained momentum after the TIB executive director’s disparaging remarks about Parliament.
At an unscheduled discussion on Monday, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed demanded dragging the TIB to Parliament for the comment. The TIB said it was ready to cooperate with Parliament. Sengupta on Tuesday said, “The NGOs have become parallel to the government and the State. They don’t have that right.”
“Some of Dr Iftekhar’s comments are unacceptable and defamatory.” “Who are you to call Parliament at “puppet show”? You are an NGO who is funded from abroad. What you’ve said is filthy,” the senior Awami League leader said. He asked the TIB to withdraw its comment in three days and w “They have crossed all social, legal and constitutional lines,” he said.
