Hasnat says his remarks regarding vehicle facilities misrepresented in media

National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Md Abul Hasnat, popularly known as Hasnat Abdullah, on Wednesday alleged that his remarks in Parliament regarding vehicle facilities for MPs had been misrepresented in the media.

Taking floor on a point of order in the House, he reiterated his commitment not to taking tax-free cars or government plots, clarifying that he had instead proposed a system similar to that currently being enjoyed by local government representatives and government officials.

The NCP lawmaker said he suggested that Members of Parliament could be allowed to use a government-owned vehicle – similar to those provided to Zila and Upazila Parishad chairmen, municipal mayors, deputy commissioners, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, Assistant Commissioners (Land) and other government officials.

 “A government-owned vehicle could be used by an MP only during their time in office, and it would be returned to the government after the tenure ends. This would not require any additional expenditure,” he said.

Hasnat Abdullah said both treasury and opposition benches had pledged after the formation of the 13th Parliament not to enjoy the facilities such as tax-free cars and government plots.

 “I supported that decision in Parliament on Tuesday. But my remarks were misinterpreted in various media outlets,” he said, explaining that an MP currently receives around Tk 70,000 for vehicle maintenance, despite not being provided with government vehicles.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, said the matter had already been clarified and noted that the decision by MPs not to accept tax-free cars and plots has been widely welcomed by the people of the country.