The approval came at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet held at the Prime Minister’s Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters at the Secretariat after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said, “The Cabinet gave the final approval to the draft act where four major changes have been brought in the existing law (Bangladesh Tariff Commission Act, 1992).”
As there were some limitations in the existing law, he said the changes were made to update it.
Shafiul said the Commission was established in 1973 as a government office through a resolution. Later in 1992, the commission through the Bangladesh Tariff Commission Act-1992 was established as a statutory body.
The Cabinet secretary said the name of Bangladesh Tariff Commission has been renamed as the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission.
He also said the section seven of the Bangladesh Tariff Commission Act, 1992 has also been changed widening the purview and the scope of activities of the commission.
Besides, Shafiul said, some changes have been brought in section 8 of the existing law to ensure the privacy of the employees and staff of the commission.
As per section 12 of the approved act, he said the commission can hire consultants and research assistants on ad hoc basis in consultation with the government.
Shafiul also said the Cabinet adopted a condolence motion at the recent death of prominent playwright, director and actor Momtazuddin Ahmed.
He said the cabinet also extended its congratulation as Bangladesh was elected as a member of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.
Replying to a question, Shafiul said the Cabinet Division’s probe committee formed to look into the incident of Biman pilot’s travel to Doha without passport submitted its report to him on Sunday. “There’re five-seven recommendations in it. I’ll let you know about it after going through the report,” he said.
Asked whether the Cabinet may reshuffle further, Shafiul said has no idea about it.