Dhaka, Sept. 8 -- Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Tuesday questioned the inclusion of state ministers and ruling whips in parliamentary standing committees, warning that the practice runs contrary to the convention of keeping committee chairmanship and membership largely with private members.

The Speaker raised the issue in Parliament immediately after Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni formed five standing committees and reconstituted two others, with four whips holding state ministerial rank appointed as committee chairmen.

Addressing the chief whip, he said the "spirit" of parliamentary committees was that their chairmen should be private members, while ministers should serve as members.

"I have noticed that in several ministries, state minis...