We find it very interesting when a ruling party lawmaker on Monday in the Jatiya Sangsad said that MPs have become hostages to bureaucrats. “The way bureaucrats speak, it seems MPs don’t have any value ….,” MP Nazim Uddin Ahmed of Mymensingh-3 said. Urging all MPs to raise their voice against the bureaucrats, he said: “We all need to be vocal to escape from the hands of bureaucracy. I will tell the members of parliament, please be strong to get rid of bureaucracy.” This open statement clears us one thing that how fragile the relation between the MPs and bureaucrats is. It is nothing surprising that bureaucrats – either lower level or top brass – do not give any importance to the MPs as all of them were elected following their mechanisms orchestrated with the help of law enforcement agencies.
Many development projects, including the construction of hospital, school and college buildings, roads, and mosques, are now reportedly stalled halfway due to tug of war between the two s power-hungry groups. In every district, the Deputy Commissioners are reportedly showing eagerness to get involved in the projects as supervisory authority. But it is not to happen. The MPs must have their share of extravagant expenses. So far as we know the relation between the public representatives and bureaucrats was getting bitter for last two years over the share of money distribution meant for ultra poor, relief goods for affected people, funds for different development projects. The government in April, 2020 assigned senior secretaries, secretaries and officials of equivalent rank to coordinate efforts in districts to supervise relief distribution. Earlier, it was the designated task local public representatives and MPs.
But finding too much greed and too much interference this practice was changed. Now friction is common between local administration and Awami League leaders.
