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A writ petition has been filed with the High Court challenging the government’s decision to assign ministers, state ministers and parliamentary whips district-based responsibilities.
Eleven Jamaat-e-Islami MPs, including Barrister Nazibur Rahman Momen, filed the petition on Sunday (August 30).
The Cabinet Secretary has been made a respondent in the petition.
Barrister Mohammad Shishir Monir, counsel for the petitioners, said a similar district-based responsibility allocation was made in 2001.
A writ petition challenging that decision was filed at the time, and the High Court later declared the allocation unconstitutional.
He argued that such a decision is beyond legal authority and unlawful under the Rules of Business, the Constitution of Bangladesh and judgments of the higher courts.
The 11 petitioners are Barrister Nazibur Rahman Momen of Pabna-1, Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem of Dhaka-14, Md Golam Rabbani of Rangpur-5, Md Nurul Islam Bulbul of Chapainawabganj-3, Md Masud Parvez of Chuadanga-1, Muhammad Azizur Rahman of Jashore-1, Sheikh Manjurul Haque Rahad of Bagerhat-2, Shafiqul Islam Masud of Patuakhali-2, Rashedul Islam of Sherpur-1, Salauddin of Gazipur-4 and Mohammad Zahirul Islam of Chattogram.
Earlier, ministers, state ministers and parliamentary whips were assigned responsibility for supervising and coordinating government activities in different districts, including maintaining law and order, combating corruption and drugs, and ensuring good governance, transparency and accountability, as well as overseeing public welfare and development activities.
Following a Cabinet decision of the government formed after the 13th parliamentary election, the Cabinet Division issued a notification on Thursday (August 27), allocating these responsibilities across all 64 districts.
The notification said the Cabinet had observed with deep concern that during the previous “fascist” regime, development allocations in various districts were allegedly embezzled through widespread corruption, with part of the proceeds reportedly siphoned abroad.
It said another portion of the illicit funds was allegedly used within the country for activities involving drugs and social degradation, posing threats to public and national security.
According to the notification, the government and Cabinet are collectively accountable to Parliament and the people for development, combating corruption, maintaining law and order, establishing good governance and ensuring national security.
It said ensuring sustainable development, good governance, transparency, accountability and eliminating corruption are among the government’s urgent priorities.
The notification cited Article 55(2) of the Constitution, which states that the executive power of the Republic shall be exercised by or on the authority of the Prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution.
It also referred to the Rules of Business, under which the Prime Minister may permit or approve deviations from the rules where deemed necessary.
The government said the matter had been thoroughly discussed by the Cabinet and that, in light of the High Court’s judgment in Writ Petition No. 3512 of 2003, assigning such responsibilities falls within the government’s authority.
Accordingly, without curtailing the statutory powers of local government bodies or other constitutional and statutory institutions, the government assigned ministers, state ministers and parliamentary whips responsibility for supervising and coordinating overall government activities in their designated districts.
