Editorial
MP hostel for whom?
Should only be used for the purpose it is meant
Whatever the perks and privileges our members of parliament enjoy, these are perhaps more than a poor nation like ours can afford. Regrettably, some of the services provided to them are often misused and some remain unpaid for a long time, like telephone bills, for which the MPs are allowed a monthly allowance. It is interesting to note that if there is unanimity on the floor of the House amongst the MPs cutting across party lines, it is on their additional perquisites.It is disconcerting to learn about new instances of misuse of the facilities provided to the exalted members of our parliament. Some of the accommodations provided in the MP Hostels are being used, it is learnt, not by themselves but, in some cases, the members of the parliament are allowing their personal staff of various definitions to live in those accommodations. We are given to understand that these accommodations are primarily for those MPs that don't have a place to stay in Dhaka while the parliament is in session or when an outstation MP is in town on official business. We fail to understand why, in the first place, MPs having houses in the Capital should have the use of MP accommodation at the Hostel. Why a place for living should be used as an MP's office is something that is also beyond our comprehension. While one does not discount the fact that the MPs do need appropriate offices to function, surely the use of the MP hostel, as an office, is a very bad alternative. We are constrained to remark that some of our members of the parliament may be under a false impression that, having been elected to the highest elected forum, their conduct thereafter is beyond reproach. Such acts only portray them in poor light. We feel that, like the house of parliament the MP hostel is naturally vested with dignity, which all concerned must uphold. Nothing that the MPs do should harm their image, which should be impeccable at all times. Hostels accommodation once provided to an MP must be used exactly for the purpose it was done.
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