What perks Bangladesh MPs enjoy

Public attention has once again turned to the state privileges enjoyed by members of parliament (MPs) as the process of forming the 13th national parliament gets underway following the national election.
The Election Commission (EC) published two gazette notifications of the 297 newly elected members of parliament elected to the 13th Parliament as well as the referendum results on Friday.
The process for administering the oath to the newly elected lawmakers will now be arranged.
According to official rules, an MP is entitled not only to a monthly salary but also to multiple state-funded allowances and privileges, as outlined in the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order, 1973, and its subsequent amendments.
These benefits cover allowances, transport, healthcare, travel, insurance, office expenses and telecommunications.
A lawmaker’s monthly salary and allowances include basic salary – Tk55,000, constituency allowance – Tk12,500 entertainment allowance – Tk5,000, transport allowance – Tk70,000 (including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and driver’s salary), office expense allowance – Tk15,000, laundry allowance – Tk1,500, miscellaneous allowance – Tk6,000, according to UNB.

Facilities for lawmakers
The MPs’ facilities include duty-free import of a car, jeep, or microbus, exempt from customs, VAT, and taxes, access to the import of a new vehicle under the same scheme after five years, travel allowances for air, rail, or water travel that are 1.5 times the highest class fare, road travel: per-kilometre allowance and domestic travel Tk1.2 lakh annual travel allowance or travel pass.
Besides, while on duty they get a daily allowance of Tk750 and a travel allowance of Tk75.
For attendance at parliamentary or committee sessions they get a daily allowance of Tk800, and a travel allowance of Tk200.
The government-level medical care for MPs and their families includes monthly medical allowance Tk700.
There is also a government insurance scheme of Tk10 lakh for the lawmakers in case of death or permanent disability while on duty.
In addition to that, they avail themselves of up to Tk5 lakh per year for discretionary use.
There is also a provision for an official telephone connection at MPs’ residences and Tk7,800 as monthly telephone and call expenses for each.
All allowances and benefits received by MPs are exempt from income tax.
These provisions are aimed at supporting MPs in performing their legislative and constituency responsibilities efficiently.