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MP Hasnat accuses govt members of weakening finance committee
Published : Sunday, 23 August, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Observer Online Report
NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah has alleged that some government lawmakers are trying to undermine the effectiveness of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Finance by shortening meetings on various pretexts.
Speaking to reporters after the committee’s second meeting at Parliament on Sunday, Hasnat said some government members had sought to cut discussions short, citing a lack of preparation or the need to attend other meetings.
He said the committee’s primary role was to ensure effective oversight and accountability of government activities. However, he alleged that several members were not adequately prepared for the meetings.
According to Hasnat, the committee’s first meeting on July 26 was also cut short after some members said they were unprepared, despite receiving the agenda and relevant materials in advance.
He said he had expected the second meeting to allow detailed discussions on important issues, including the restructuring of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the tax-to-GDP ratio and follow-up on decisions taken at the previous meeting.
“But the same situation arose in the second meeting as well. Several members repeatedly called for the meeting to be concluded quickly, leaving no scope for detailed discussion or visible decisions on the agenda,” he said.
Hasnat said Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and NBR officials were positive about the discussions, but the meeting was eventually concluded without adequately discussing the proposed NBR restructuring.
He also said the committee discussed the country’s economic situation and revenue collection. The government has set a 6.5 per cent GDP growth target for the current fiscal year, while the International Monetary Fund has forecast growth at 3.5 per cent, he said.
Hasnat questioned how the NBR would achieve its Tk 604,000 crore revenue collection target, which is 42 per cent higher than the previous year, amid weak private investment, limited job creation and energy shortages.
He said the NBR’s presentation appeared to focus more on increasing the tax burden on existing taxpayers than on expanding the tax net and bringing new taxpayers under it.
Hasnat also proposed fully automating tax payment and ensuring real-time data exchange among ports, banks and the NBR to reduce harassment and delays for businesses.
He said reliance on paperwork for information exchange often delays the release of imported and exported goods. He claimed that more than 45,000 import, export and MT containers were currently awaiting clearance at customs.
The MP also called for better logistical support and security for field-level revenue officials.
Hasnat urged the parliamentary standing committees not to become merely formal platforms, saying their effectiveness was essential to ensuring parliamentary oversight and government accountability.
“If a standing committee becomes merely a platform for formality instead of ensuring accountability, its constitutional and institutional purpose is undermined,” he said.
SKS
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
