Lawmakers of the main opposition Awami League at a parliamentary body meeting yesterday demanded discussion on the purchase of 16 fighters from China at $93.6 million, sensing lack of transparency in the process.

Shawkat Ali, a member of the parliamentary standing committee on the defence ministry, made the demand.

"The committee chairman and a ruling BNP lawmaker denied holding any discussion on the issue. Their denial proves there is lack of transparency in the process," Shawkat alleged.

Committee Chairman and ruling BNP lawmaker Mahbubur Rahman told The Daily Star they are not against discussion. "I assured the opposition lawmakers that the discussion may be held at any meeting in future."

Replying to the AL lawmakers' query, the chief of air force however told the meeting the process is underway to purchase the aircraft. He would inform the committee in detail at any meeting in future, he said.

An agreement was signed in 2004-05 fiscal year for purchasing the fighters at $5.85 million each.

The previous AL government purchased eight Mig29 aircraft from Russia at $123.98 million that drew widespread flack.

Major (retd) Aktharuzzaman, lawmaker of the then main opposition BNP and also a member of the parliamentary standing committee on the defence ministry, had instituted a suit in the High Court against the purchase.

The allegations made were: The aircraft were old and hence there had been a misuse of public funds, an advance payment had been made in violation of the terms of the agreement, and the purchase process lacked transparency.

Following the suit, the HC issued a rule nisi on the government and asked it to explain why the purchase agreement would not be declared illegal. Later, it decided that the parliamentary committee should not be prevented from examining the issue and the rule was vacated.

The parliamentary body at yesterday's meeting also expressed satisfaction over the arrest of JMB kingpin Abdur Rahman. It also discussed the appointment of civil manpower in the defence services.