Opposition MPs oppose exclusion from TR, Kabikha funds 

The Opposition lawmaker Akhtar Hossain has raised concerns in Parliament, questioning whether the government has drawn a separate disaster map for ruling and opposition constituencies. He alleged that opposition-held constituencies were excluded from the recent allocations under the Test Relief (TR) and Food-for-Work (Kabikha) programmes.

Responding to the allegation, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said that lawmakers who had submitted requisition requests would receive their allocations within the next couple of days.

The issue was discussed during the question-and-answer session of the National Parliament on Monday.

Speaking on a supplementary question during the sitting, chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal, Akhtar Hossain asked whether there had been any change in Bangladesh’s disaster management map. He noted that the allocations announced by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on April 30 had been distributed only to constituencies represented by ruling-party MPs, while opposition constituencies received none.

“If disasters were to affect only ruling-party constituencies and not opposition areas, that would be a different matter,” he said. “But in reality, when disasters strike, people in all constituencies suffer.”

Alleging discrimination in relief distribution, Akhtar Hossain said that on April 30, allocations amounting to Tk 8.5 million along with 90 tonnes each of rice and wheat were provided exclusively to constituencies represented by ruling-party lawmakers, while opposition constituencies were left out.

He argued that these allocations come from taxpayers’ money and therefore people living in opposition-held constituencies had been subjected to discrimination. He asked when opposition MPs would receive allocations on an equal basis.

Following his remarks, Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal described the issue as “a very fundamental question” and said that if the allegation were true, it would be inappropriate. He expressed hope that the minister would clarify the matter.

In response, Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said the government was implementing a range of disaster preparedness and response measures, including the construction of flood and cyclone shelters. He added that cash and food reserves had also been allocated to deputy commissioners to address emergencies.

“We provide allocations to MPs who submit requests to us,” the minister said. “I believe they will receive their allocations within the next day or two.”