People to lose interest in JS if vital issues not discussed

Pointing to his submission of a notice in parliament seeking permission to discuss the sorry state of the banking sector, Menon said the Speaker did not consider it for discussion.

“MPs in parliament generally cannot express their independent opinion in many cases due to Article 70 of the constitution. If we can’t hold discussions on such important issues, we will only listen to government’s praise in parliament,” he said while discussing the thanksgiving motion on the president’s address.

Under the Article 70, lawmakers lose their seats in parliament if they vote in the House against the party that nominated them.

Pointing to the low voter turnout in the February 1 Dhaka city polls, Menon said apathy among the people to vote could cause disaster for the country’s democracy.

“Such low turnout will also make political parties irrelevant in the country’s politics,” he said. “Even [many] supporters of the Awami League and the 14-party did not go to the polling centres.”

Talking about the banking sector, Menon said the government borrowings from the sector had touched the ceiling in the first six months of this fiscal year.

He mentioned that the credit flow in the private sector was the lowest in the last 11 years, which is only 9.83 percent.

He also criticised Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal for his claim that the amount of defaulted loan would not increase.” “The steps he has taken to reduce the amount was pro-businessmen, not pro-banking sector or pro-economy.”

Menon demanded the government publish the name of those laundering money abroad.

He put emphasis on forming a bank commission to bring discipline in the banking sector.