Deputy Speaker Humayun Khan Pannt yesterday sent a call notice of Rashed Khan Menon to the Standing Committee on the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry for scrutiny of alleged corruption and Irregularities regarding a tender, reports UNB.
The allegation referred to the approval of tender by the Civil Aviation Ministry for construction of four boarding bridges at Zta International Airport.
The chair gave the ruling following persistent demands by opposition members. Including Menon, who alleged that the Civil Aviation Ministry hnd resorted to irregularities in giving the work order to Z-Way Company of America in a 'motivated and pre-planned' manner.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Abdul Mannan opposed sending the notice to the Standing Committee. Refuting Menon's allegation, he claimed that the work order was given to the ZWay Company after observing all rules and formalities of International tenders.
Giving a detailed background of the tender and retender for the construction of the boarding bridges, the State Minister told the House that the Z-Way Company had fulfilled all the required specifications and was given the work order for Its lowest bid of Tk 6.44 crore.
Earlier, in his call attention notice, Menon alleged that the Chinese Machineries Corporation, despite being the lowest bidder, was not given the work order by the Civil' Aviation Authority.
Menon claimed the government will be deprived of about Taka one crore because of irregularities regarding the work order and urged the chair to send the notice to the Standing Committee for scrutiny of the matter under rule 71 (1) of the Rules of Procedure.
The House, however, witnessed an uproar over certain remarks of State Minister Abdul Mannan about Rashed Khan Menon. More than a dozen MPs stood on their feet in protest when the State Minister alluded to "business interest" of Njenon in bringing the call attention notice.
"Certainly there is a business interest of Menon, himself behind it," said Mannan about the call notice, opening an unscheduled debate In the House.
Responding to the State Minister's remark. Menon asked Abdul Mannan to prove the allegation or else resign.
“You must prove that my business interest in involved in bringing the notice, otherwise you will have to resign." said Menon.
The Workers' Party leader
said: We do not belong to the party of thieves. I don t need to test my honesty with those who were imprisoned on corruption charges."
The House proceeding suffered further when the Information Minister stood on his feet to defend the Stale Minister for Civil Aviation after the Deputy Speaker's ruling.
Noise and shouting marked the proceedings when Infor-ntatlon Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda said the notice should be sent to the Standing Committee to investigate If' there Is any business Interest affecting Menon in this matter.
This led to a debate when acting Leader of the Opposition Abdus Samad Azad, Barrister Maudud Ahmed. Matiur Rahman Nizami, Suranjit Sengupta and Sudhangshu Shekhar Halder took the floor protesting the remark.
They protested the Information Minister’s remark questioning Menon’s integrity, particularly after the Deputy Speaker’s ruling, and demanded the Minister’s remarkable expunged from the proceedings.
Deputy Leader of the House Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury and Works Minister Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mian also took Cart in the unscheduled deate, stressing the need for maintaining the Rules of Procedure by all members for smooth functioning of the House.
Dr Badruddoza Chowdhdry pointed out that allegations are now being raised frequently questioning the integrity of the ministers. Untrue allegations must offend a member or a minister, he said, and suggested the House enact a law so that no member can raise any allegation without specific evidence and documents.