TIB study on MPs frustrates government: Inu

DHAKA, Nov 18, 2012 (BSS) - Information minister Hasanul Huq Inu today formally came up with the government reaction on a recent report of the Bangladesh chapter of the Berlin-based Transparency International (TIB) on lawmakers calling it "flawed, weak, mysterious and frustrating".

"We took the (TIB) report seriously . . . But we failed to take any action against any individual as the study didn't follow the 'convenience samplings system; rather the report appeared based on a 'preconceived notion'," he told a press conference at Bangladesh Secretariat a month after the report was published.

He termed the report "very weak, indefinite, flawed and mysterious" and added that the TIB research work was carried out on a negative notion as it was conducted under a certain set of negative questions for selected respondents.

"The report frustrated the Grand Alliance government . . . we
could not go for any action on the basis of it," Inu said.

The TIB report alleged that nearly 97 percent lawmakers were found involved in 'negative activities' and 70 percent of them in virtual 'criminal acts'.

Referring to the survey, Inu categorically said the researchers did not follow appropriately the methods used for social researches and "Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was done with only 15 to 20 people, mostly non-voters in each electoral constituency where general people were also ignored."

The minister also called upon the TIB to carry out the standard as well as objective survey to help establish transparency and good governance.

Replying to a query, he said an observation of the Bangladesh
government on the TIB's recent report and subsequently government's verification on it would be sent to the TIB's Headquarters soon.

About taking any legal action against the 'TIB misreporting' involving the MPs of the ninth parliament, the minister said, "It's the Jatiya Sangsad which is responsible to take decision regarding this."

"We are thinking whether this issue can be placed the parliament," he added.

Inu told a questioner that no government high-ups, officials and influential quarters remained out of the interrogation of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) involving the scams of Hall- Mark, Destiny and Padma Bridge.

He was also critical of the BNP-Jamaat government's rule and martial law regime.

Held at the Press Information Department (PID) auditorium in the secretariat, information secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamun, Principal Information Officer (PIO) Mohammad Aminul Islam and Director General of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Prof Dulal Chandra Biswas were present at the press conference.