IT appears that discovering a decomposed body in an MP Hostel back in 2012 was not enough of a ‘wake up’ call for Parliamentarians and security officials as police have just caught a gang of fraudulent people who have been duping others into paying huge sums of money in exchange for ‘government jobs’ or other lucrative services. A temporary office was set up at an old MP Hostel and for a whole year, Mahmudul, Ripon and Yusuf, conducted their illegal activities right under the noses of top security personnel inside the National Parliament premises.
According to reports, the culprits were being supported by an influential caretaker of the hostel which helped them lure people into giving them money for jobs and maintain liaisons with different ministries in order to win bids. The reports also gave details on how Mahmudul had been identifying himself as a major or a DGFI official while deceiving people by showing fake visiting cards and travelling in a car with a sticker attached (which is meant to be used only by lawmakers).
Even though caretaker Salahuddin was handed over to the police by law enforcers of the Parliament complex, the police refused to detain him as he reportedly maintained close connection with several lawmakers and ministers. According to reports, Sub-Inspector Saiful denied knowledge or involvement about any such happenings, as did the ruling party (Awami League) lawmaker Kabirul Haq (who had been allotted the room where the frauds were committed). Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury informed news agencies that she formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter and asked the Parliament Secretariat to take suggestions for improving the security of the MP hostels.
The arrest and subsequent revelation of illegal activities inside the Parliament complex have raised questions regarding the security of the House and responsibilities of persons related to the MP hostels. The current situation is nothing but a testament of how security officials have not been fulfilling their duties by doing their best to protect the Parliamentarians and MP hostels and ensuring such unscrupulous practices do not take place in the place where the law-making patrons are to be kept safe and effective. It is upto the party in power to ensure that wherever illegal activities may occur — the MP hostel should not be a place for such acts of malfeasance. But as unelected MPs, they do not know how an unelected parliament loses its value and dignity. That is why we insist please restore people’s house as people’s house.
