TIB hails bill on Code of Conduct for MPs
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has welcomed the private member's bill on 'Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament, 2010' placed in the parliament on January 14.
In a statement issued Friday, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, said if adopted, the bill will not only fulfil a key electoral pledge of ruling Awami League, but it will also go a long way in institutionalising democracy, promoting democratic practice and meeting public expectation in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
Awami League lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury placed the bill in parliament.
The TIB statement stated such an important bill that has now been placed in the Parliament, though as a private member's bill, reflects the realisation of the importance of upholding the highest ethical and parliamentary standards by the Parliament and Members of the Parliament (MPs).
"We are particularly encouraged that the bill provides for specific measures for enforcement and monitoring of observance of the proposed Code through self-regulation to be overseen by an Ethics Committee composed of all parties represented in the Parliament," it added.
The TIB mentioned several recent studies including an in-depth research by Transparency International Bangladesh showed that there is a huge public demand and expectation of such a code of conduct and its enforcement to prevent abuse of power and to promote transparent and accountable governance.
"Such codes of conduct have also been found to have made extremely important contributions in strengthening democracy and the national integrity system in many other countries of the world," it stated.
The TIB urged all concerned, especially, the Members of the Parliament across the political spectrum, to take immediate necessary steps to enact the bill as a law as soon as possible, and meet the public expectation.
In a statement issued Friday, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, said if adopted, the bill will not only fulfil a key electoral pledge of ruling Awami League, but it will also go a long way in institutionalising democracy, promoting democratic practice and meeting public expectation in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
Awami League lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury placed the bill in parliament.
The TIB statement stated such an important bill that has now been placed in the Parliament, though as a private member's bill, reflects the realisation of the importance of upholding the highest ethical and parliamentary standards by the Parliament and Members of the Parliament (MPs).
"We are particularly encouraged that the bill provides for specific measures for enforcement and monitoring of observance of the proposed Code through self-regulation to be overseen by an Ethics Committee composed of all parties represented in the Parliament," it added.
The TIB mentioned several recent studies including an in-depth research by Transparency International Bangladesh showed that there is a huge public demand and expectation of such a code of conduct and its enforcement to prevent abuse of power and to promote transparent and accountable governance.
"Such codes of conduct have also been found to have made extremely important contributions in strengthening democracy and the national integrity system in many other countries of the world," it stated.
The TIB urged all concerned, especially, the Members of the Parliament across the political spectrum, to take immediate necessary steps to enact the bill as a law as soon as possible, and meet the public expectation.