State Minister Lincon’s Move to Distribute Forms Is Unwanted, Says Parliamentary Standing Committee

State Minister for Religious Affairs Mr. Shamim Kaiser (Lincoln) has sent letters to Members of Parliament to give government grants to poor and helpless people and various religious institutions. Related sources claim that, under the rules, the state minister should work on such activities in coordination with the minister.

Minister for Religious Affairs Mr. Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad is in Saudi Arabia to sign a bilateral Hajj agreement. A ministry source alleges that the state minister took the chance of his foreign trip. The source says he has taken control of about 7,000 grant forms of the ministry and is running the process himself.

The source says this has created a lack of coordination in the ministry, and most officials and staff feel embarrassed. Mr. Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, the retired religious affairs secretary appointed on contract, also cannot play any effective role. Sources allege that the administrative control of the ministry has therefore gone to a few joint secretaries.

The source also says some officers of the 24th BCS have become especially influential. Frustration and discontent are growing over various activities because of the lack of coordination. Those concerned say transparency, accountability and administrative coordination are a must in important work like distributing government grants. They demand a quick solution and proper administrative control over the grant process.

Last night, Daily Inqilab asked Mr. Rafiqul Islam Jamal about the lack of coordination and the letter signed by Mr. Shamim Kaiser. Mr. Jamal is chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on religious affairs. He said Minister Mr. Kaikobad is in Saudi Arabia for the bilateral Hajj agreement and will return home in a day or two.

Mr. Jamal said government grant forms are distributed from the offices of the minister and the religious affairs secretary. In the minister’s absence, State Minister Mr. Lincoln sent letters to MPs to distribute the forms. Mr. Jamal said he got that letter too. He said it is hard to understand why MPs must take grant forms from a state minister when the minister is in office.

He said that, as chairman of the standing committee, he feels embarrassed to get this unexpected letter on form distribution. He also expressed anger and said what Mr. Lincoln is doing with the grant forms is unwanted.