The government has issued a directive to set up dedicated office chambers for the Members of Parliament at upazila complexes in a bid to strengthen their engagement with their constituents.

State minister for local government Mir Shahe Alam informed the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday that a government order had already been issued to the upazila nirbahi officers in this regard.

He made the announcement after taking the floor with the speaker’s permission.

Following the announcement, National Citizen Party lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah welcomed the initiative but urged the government to also provide official vehicles to the lawmakers to facilitate travel within their constituencies.

The state minister said that instructions had been issued to prepare especially designated ‘visiting rooms’ for the lawmakers in each upazila parishad building, whether new or existing.

Every such room would include attached bathrooms and necessary furnishings, he said.

Shahe Alam said that formal allocation of rooms in the name of lawmakers was not permitted under the existing regulations.

As such, the designated spaces would be termed ‘visiting rooms’, where lawmakers would be able to carry out official duties and meet people of their respective constituencies, he said.

The state minister further said that lawmakers representing constituencies with multiple upazilas would be provided with such facility in each upazila.

Following the announcement, National Citizen Party lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah welcomed the initiative but urged the government to also provide official vehicles to the lawmakers to facilitate travel within their constituencies.

Responding with the speaker’s permission, home minister Salahuddin Ahmed said that the government leadership had taken a clear position against providing additional privileges to lawmakers.

He said that prime minister Tarique Rahman had instructed lawmakers at the outset to avoid any form of luxury or extra benefits.

Salahuddin said that there were plans to amend existing laws to withdraw tax-free vehicle facility for the Members of Parliament.

However, the minister said that the demand raised by the opposition lawmaker Hasnat could be discussed further with both treasury and opposition members, and confirmed that the matter would be brought to the attention of the prime minister for consideration.

Leader of the opposition Shafiqul Rahman welcomed the treasury bench’s acknowledgment of the issue, but remarked in a lighter tone that requests from younger lawmaker Hasnat should not be dismissed outright.