Parliament hears call to disclose wealth statements of lawmakers

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should seek asset information of all the lawmakers in line with the government’s zero tolerance policy towards graft, an opposition lawmaker tells parliament.

BNP MP Harunur Rashid made the call during Tuesday’s session.

The ACC has served notices to 56 top Islamic scholars seeking their asset details, he said before adding: “But I think it should ask us, the 350 MPs, to submit our wealth information.”

The lawmaker from Chapainawabganj said he thinks it will be more acceptable because the prime minister has already announced a zero tolerance policy towards corruption.

Also Read - BNP to ministers, MPs: Make your wealth statements public

Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque said it was not necessary as “we regularly submit it before the elections”.

“Asset details of all military and civil bureaucrats as well as businesspersons need to be checked. We [the MPs] will also provide our details. I will give up my assets, if my wealth statement does not match with the affidavit I filed before the election,” said the MP from a Kishoreganj constituency.

Ruling MP Md Faridul Haque Khan, who serves as state minister for religious affairs, however, criticized the proposal by BNP’s Harun.

The lawmaker from Jamalpur-2 said it was “defamatory for all members of parliament”.