Thaindian News

Dhaka, June 28 (IANS) A former speaker of the Bangladesh parliament and two other senior officials may be tried for “contempt” after they boycotted a house committee probe meeting that is looking into corruption charges against them.
Former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, deputy speaker Akhter Hamid Siddiqui and chief whip Khandaker Delwar Hossain of the eighth parliament did not appear before the committee Saturday to defend themselves against serious charges of financial irregularities and corruption.

The committee viewed their absence as “contempt of parliament”, New Age said.

“Their skipping the committee meeting is contemptuous of the parliament. They had an obligation to attend the meeting of the committee formed by the parliament,” committee chairman Fazle Rabbi Mian told the media.

“Charges would be finalised against the trio - all belonging to the main opposition BNP - by July 1. The parliament will decide what actions should be taken against them,” Mian said.

It is likely to recommend trial of the three BNP leaders for contempt of parliament, the newspaper said quoting a committee member.

Sircar, who lost the December general election, but returned to ninth parliament in a by-election, said he had stayed away after the committee did not provide him with documents used to substantiate the allegations against him.

“How can I reply to the charges if I am denied a chance to go through the papers?” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

The 11-member committee was formed after the parliament secretariat was accused of financial irregularities during Sircar’s tenure as the presiding officer.

The charges include Sircar sanctioning himself funds to travel abroad to attend international parliamentary meets when there was no parliament in existence in Bangladesh during 2007-08.

The three politicians are also accused of drawing funds for transport and medical treatment in excess of norms.