Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 895 Sun. December 03, 2006  
   
Editorial


Editorial
Arrear bills &MPs
Lawmakers becoming lawbreakers
Finally, in a bid to establish accountability, Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone (BTTB) has filed cases against a number of former BNP lawmakers for not paying arrear telephone bills since as far back as 1991. Seven lawmakers owe BTTB the sum of Tk. 23 lakh and two more owe the same organisation the sum of Tk. 57, 000. This in spite of the fact that the MPs are paid telephone allowances as one of their perks to defray the costs. In response to the specific cases a magistrate of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court has asked the defaulters to explain why action should not be taken against them for not paying the arrear bills. The defaulting former lawmakers were asked to submit a suitable answer by 14 December.

While we appreciate such astute step taken by the administration, we cannot but ask the question to them as to why the same step was not taken during the tenure of the immediate past 4-party alliance government. That sure would have set an example of uprightness on the part of the administration, which is supposed to remain above any political consideration. But, unfortunately, BTTB failed to come up to our expectation.

That lawmakers in this country more often than not try to bypass, misuse and violate their short-lived power is an old but discreditable story. Most of them conveniently miss the deadline to pay their personal utility bills, as they remain busy with either their busyness or business. A good number of times authentic accounts of unpaid arrear bills of the lawmakers have been published in the print media in the past, which followed editorials and post-editorials. Even if some relatively conscientious public representatives paid any heed to such reports, many chose to turn a blind eye to them. This unwholesome culture of lawmakers becoming lawbreakers has to stop to ensure good governance in the future.

Though late, we hope the long arm of the law would now be able to realise the huge sums from the defaulters and deposit the money in public exchequer for better use.