Lawmakers\\\' recent criticism illogical: TIB

Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman termed the lawmakers' recent criticism against the organisation 'illogical', saying that it did nothing beyond their jurisdiction.
A day after TIB came under attack by the lawmakers in the Parliament for its recent research report "Parliament Watch", he said they did everything after taking permission from the government.
The parliamentarians from both Awami League and Jatiya Party in the House Monday rejected the research report that mentioned there is no opposition in the 10th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) in the real sense.
"We work for preventing corruption and ensuring good governance here, and JS is the key institution, which can play the most important role regarding the issues," he said.
"I should say, they are doing these beyond their jurisdiction," the TIB executive director said, after launching another research report on safe food consumption.
Replying to a question, he said TIB, being a non-governmental organisation (NGO), cannot receive a single coin without the government's permission.
"At the same time, we're regularly sending our annual report to the government. Not only that, we also submit our audit report to the government on a regular basis."
"Anyway, we welcome any move to probe our financial transactions," he said, adding that the ruling party, whoever in power, traditionally rejects their reports.
He said the organisation is a non-political one, and it has no intention to join politics.
According to the TIB's findings, quorum crisis in the ninth parliament caused the country a waste of more than Tk 1.04 billion.
Over 222 hours (9 days) were wasted due to the quorum crisis in the 418 parliament sittings from 2009 to 2013. This means 32 minutes were wasted in each sitting, the study said.