Development funds for MPs

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The government would, according to media reports, allocate to each member of parliament (MP) Taka 150 million for development activities in his or her constituency. Collectively they would be given Taka 47 billion for the purpose.
Clearly, the funds will be provided from the taxpayers' money. But is there any mechanism for the people or the government to ensure the accountability of the lawmakers in spending the money for the stated objective? There ought to be a mechanism to ensure that the funds are not pocketted. If there is no such mechanism it would be better for the government not to provide the taxpayers' money to the lawmakers.
Placing development funds to them is really outrageous. The media should bring the issue to the fore for public debate and scrutiny. It should not relent until the government convinces the electorate that the monies would be utilised for the intended purpose. It is for the government to tell us how it would ensure probity in the development activities.

Murad Reza
Eskaton, Dhaka