DHAKA: The Supreme Court stayed for six weeks a High Court order blocking government’s block allocation of Tk 15 crore for Akkelpur Upazila through the parliament member concerned.

Chamber judge of the Appellate Division ABM Khairul Haque passed the order in response to a government petition for overturning the HC ruling on a writ petition filed by the upazila chairman challenging the allocation of Tk 15 crore in the account of each of the Members of Parliament for development spending.  

Advocate Yusuf Ali moved for Akkelpur upazila Chairman Anwarul Haque Bablu and Deputy Attorney-General Mostafa Jaman Islam for the state.

Earlier, a meeting of the ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) on March 10 adopted a decision allocating Tk 15 crore to the account of each of the lawmakers for funding development works in their respective constituency.

Chairman Anwarul Huq Bablu of Akkelpur upazila in Joypurhat filed the writ challenging the decision on August 8.

Later on August 16, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to show cause as to why the decision on Tk 15 crore block allocation for each Member of Parliament is not “illegal”.

The HC, however, halted effectiveness of the government decision for Akkelpur for four weeks after hearing the writ.

The High Court also issued a rule upon five top government officials, including the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Planning Secretary, asking them to explain why the decision of government would not be declared “illegal”.

BDST: 1507 HRS, AUG 30, 2010.