Cabinet
Proposals to import sugar, fertilizer get cabinet body nod
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Thursday approved some 13 procurement proposals including import of sugar and fertilizer.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting while other members of the committee attended it.
As per the proposal placed by the Commerce Ministry, its subordinate body Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will import 12,500 metric tons of sugar from Brazil.
Local company JMI Export-Import will supply the sugar from Brazil at a total value of Tk 65.98 crore with per metric ton costing at $524.
State marketing agency Trading Corporation of Bangladesh(TCB) moved to import the bulk sugar amid the growing price of such essential commodity.
As per the proposal of the Agriculture Ministry, its subordinate body Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) will import 100,000 MT of MOP fertilizer from a Polish company at a contract value of 906.69 crore.
The Ministry of Industries placed a proposal to procure 30,000 MT of bagged granular urea fertilizer from local company Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Ltd (Kafco) at contract value of Tk 191.03 crore.
Read more: Bangladesh to buy fertiliser at lower cost, thanks to declining global price
Another similar proposal of the BCIC for the import of 30,000 MT of bulk granular urea from Muntajat of Qatar at a cost of Tk 201.78 crore under state contract also received the approval of the CCGP.
The Primary and Mass Education Ministry’s proposal to award Tk 25.89 crore contract of the National Curriculum and Textbooks Board (NCTB) to different contractors for printing, binding and supplying 75.93 lakh of Bangla and English version of textbooks for 3d, 4th and 5th grades of students also received the nod of the CCGP.
The committee approved two separate proposals of the Shipping Ministry to award contracts for dredging of different rivers under different lots.
Three proposals of the Roads and Highways Department were placed by the Roads Transport and Highways Division for the meeting which received approval of the committee.
Of these, the Roads and Highways Department will award a Tk 269.87 crore contract to Joint Venture of 1. ICT; 2. IRD; and 3. SHELADIA to appoint a consultant for the Dhaka Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Development project under South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (Sasec).
Read more: TCB to procure 1.65 cr litres of edible oil from local suppliers again
It will award Tk 896.81 crore contract to Joint Venture of 1. Enez, Turkey and 2. TCCL, Bangladesh for civil construction works under Lot No-DS-11 of WP-06 package of the Sasec.
A contract of Tk 576.05 crore will be awarded by the Roads and Highways Department to Sinohydro Engineering Bureau 8 Corporation Ltd., China for lot No-DSA of the package-6 of the Sasec project.
Ban on cutting trees in reserved forests extended until 2030
The Cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to extend the ban on cutting trees in the country’s reserved and natural forests until 2030 in a bid to protect the biodiversity.
The approval came at the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office here.
“Trees in the reserved forests can no way be cut until 2030. But trees in social forests can be cut,” Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry placed the proposal at the meeting.
As per the previous decision taken by the cabinet in August, 2016, there has been a ban on cutting trees in in the country’s reserved and natural forests till 2022.
Read more: Cabinet okays 22 public holidays in 2023
The cabinet also approved the draft of the National Adaptation Plan (2023-2030) in order to cope up with the adversities of the climate change.
Besides, the meeting gave the final approval to the draft of the Essential Services Act, 2022 merging the two old laws – the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 and the Essential Services (Second) Ordinance, 1958.
“Since the existing laws are old ones. The proposed law was placed (by the Labour and Employment Ministry) aiming to have a modernized and time-befitting law in this regard,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
The cabinet approved the draft of the Balumohal (sand quarry) and Soil Management (Amendment) Act, 2022 to stop the indiscriminate sand-lifting by.
Read more: Cabinet sends back National Adaptation Plan on climate change for modification
“As per the draft, the Balumohal can’t be leased out for more than one year,” said Islam adding that the maximum punishment for grievous offense is two-year imprisonment, Tk 10 lakh as fine or both under the law.
He said now the deputy commissioners and the Land Ministry will have to take requisition from either the Water Development Board or the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) for every Balumohal. Then the board or BIWTA will conduct a digital survey to fix where and how much sand can be lifted.
Cabinet purchase body okays import of 90,000 MT fertiliser, other proposals
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase in a virtual meeting on Wednesday approved a number of proposals including the import of 90,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting.
The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will buy entire fertilisers in three separate lots from three different companies under separate contracts.
As per the proposals, some 30,000 MT of bagged granular urea fertiliser will be procured from Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company (Kafco) at a cost of Tk 197.46 crore while another 30,000 MT of bulk granullar urea from Muntajat of Qatar at a cost of Tk 200.55 crore.
The remaining 30,000 MT will be imported by the BCIC from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company of Saudia Arabia at the same price.
Read: Cabinet committee approves contract extension of 4 rental power plants, 200,000 MT rice import from Myanmar
The BCIC will also import 30,000 MT of phosphoric acid at Tk 233.82 crore for its DAP Fertiliser Company Limited.
The committee approved a proposal of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division's proposal to appoint the Joint Venture of (1) Dohatec Media Bangladesh; and (2) GSS Infotech Ltd. India as a consultant for its Digitizing Implementation Monitoring and Public Procurement project at a contract value of Tk 51.23 crore.
A proposal of the Public Works Department under the Housing and Public Works Ministry received a nod for its proposal to award a contract to The Engineers & Architects Ltd., to build a 14-story residential building at Tk 144.36 crore.
Cabinet clears laws to establish 2 universities in Meherpur, Naogaon
The Cabinet on Monday cleared the draft laws for setting up two public varsities --‘Mujibnagar University’ in Meherpur and ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University’ in Naogaon.
The approval came from the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined it through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Other cabinet members attended the meeting from the conference room of the Cabinet Division in Bangladesh Secretariat.
“The two proposed universities would be prototypes of other public universities,” said Cabinet Secretariat Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Also read: Go to people to explain fuel price hike, Cabinet asks Energy Division
He said the Cabinet gave the final approval to the drafts of ‘Mujibnagar University, Meherpur Act, 2022’ and Bangabandhu University, Naogaon Act, 2022’ on condition for vetting the two draft laws.
Besides, the Cabinet approved the draft of Light Engineering Industry Policy-2022 in a bid to flourish the light engineering sector in the country.
“Due to the policy, the light engineering industry will be spread, the role of the industrial sector will be enhanced further and the economic development will be accelerated,” said Anwarul Islam.
The meeting okayed the draft of ‘Sylhet Development Authority Act, 2022’ with a view to ensuring the planned developments in Sylhet city and its adjacent areas.
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The proposed law was designed to make Sylhet city as a planned one by preventing unplanned constructions in the city and its surrounding areas, said the Cabinet Secretary.
The Cabinet retrospectively approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on migration and mobility, which was signed between Bangladesh and Greece in February last.
Under the MoU, some 4,000 Bangladeshis will get scope to go to Greece every year and they will initially get five-year permit to work in its agriculture sector, said Anwarul Islam.
Besides, 14,000-15,000 Bangladeshis who have already become unauthorized ones in Greece can be legalized under the deal, he added.
Go to people to explain fuel price hike, Cabinet asks Energy Division
The Cabinet on Thursday directed the Energy Division to reiterate to the people the justification behind the huge increase in the prices of fuel triggering a public outcry.
The directive came from the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined it through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban. Other cabinet members were connected from the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The cabinet was informed about what the Energy Ministry or Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) told the press in details about the fuel prices, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam replying to a question at a press briefing.
“The Energy Ministry was asked to brief (the media) again over it,” he said, adding that the BPC chairman already spoke in details about the matter at the recent press briefing.
Read: Cabinet approves draft Finance Company Bill
Asked if the government would revise the hike, the Cabinet secretary said, “They (the ministry or BPC) will make all things clear.”
In an abrupt midnight move last week, the government hiked fuel prices by up to 51 per cent citing losses incurred by the state-run petroleum agency owing to global high import costs.
The controversial move has triggered public anger and protests across the country.
Rape survivor’s character can’t be questioned during trial: Cabinet clears draft law
The Cabinet on Monday approved an amendment to the British-era Evidence Act that will disallow questioning about a rape survivor’s character during court trial handing a key victory to the rights groups who find the provision insulting to victims.
The draft of Evidence (Amendment) Act, 2022 sailed through Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined it through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The proposed amendment seeks to restrict section 146(3) of the Evidence Act so victims cannot be asked “obnoxious questions” regarding their character without court’s permission, according to media briefing by Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam.
Also read: Writ seeks cancellation of Evidence Act provisions on rape victims’ character
“Some amendments were brought in the draft law as the digital court has been recognized,” he said.
He said there is a tendency to question the character of victims by the opponent side. “In the draft law, there is a restriction on it. The permission will have to be taken from the court to raise questions over the character of anyone straightway,” he said.
According to the proposed law, digital records will be accepted as evidence, he said, adding that data alongside information can also be used.
The authorities concerned have been asked to translate the law (The Evidence Act, 1872) into Bangla immediately, he said.
Besides, the Cabinet in principle approved the draft of Village Court (Amendment) Act, 2022 changing the provision to dispose of a case within 15 days instead of 30 days as well as incorporating the word ‘child’ in place of ‘Nabalok’ (minor child).
As per the draft law, no child can be produced before the village court and the child will be defined as per the Children Act, said the top bureaucrat.
He said the court can raise the maximum compensation of Tk 300,000, which was Tk 75,000 in the Children Act, 2013.
The Cabinet also cleared the draft of Marine Fishing Guideline, 2022.
The Cabinet directed the Fisheries Department to mark the marine fishing vessels with specific colour and number within four months as it would take time to bring all the vessels under the registration process.
Khandker Islam said the number of marine fishing vessels might be more than 10,000.
The Cabinet gave the final approval to Bangladesh Art-Design Act, 2022 aiming to protect the intellectual properties.
The properties that go against ethics, public order and welfare of the people would not get the protection under the law, said Khandker Islam adding that unregistered arts or designs would not get protection as well.
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The meeting cleared the draft bilateral agreement over flight operation between Bangladesh and Rwanda.
The meeting asked the authorities concerned to assess the economic aspects further before signing the agreement.
Cabinet clears draft family court act 2022
The Cabinet on Sunday approved the draft of Family Court Act, 2022 in order to replace an ordinance of the military regime with some minor changes.
The approval came from the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined it from her official residence Ganobhaban through a virtual platform.
Other cabinet members were connected from the conference room of the Cabinet Division in Bangladesh Secretariat.
Also read: All citizens aged 18-50 can join universal pension scheme: Cabinet clears a draft law
“The draft law was placed in the meeting aiming to replace the Family Court Ordinance, 1985 as per the directives of the High Court,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.
As per the proposed law, the government can consider not only the court of district judges but also the courts of other judges who are equivalent to the district judges as appellate courts for such cases, he said.
Besides, the draft of Bangladesh Dairy Development Board Act, 2022 was placed in the meeting with a view to ensuring the quality of dairy milks through providing technical support and cooling storage facilities to the farmers for proper preservation or improved feeds for the animals.
But the draft law was returned with some observations to assess whether there is duplication of other related laws through consultation of all stakeholders within the next two months, said Anwarul Islam.
The Cabinet cleared a proposed agreement to be signed between Bangladesh and Brazil immediately so that the diplomats and officials of the two countries can visit each other country with just on-arrival visas, he said.
Replying to a question, the cabinet secretary said the PM in another programme gave two precise instructions as there would be an influx of transports towards Dhaka following the construction of Padma Bridge.
Also read: Cabinet approves national budget for FY2022-23
She directed the authorities concerned to go for the quick implementation of the East West Elevated Expressway proposed in the Dhaka Strategic Transport Plan so that no transport (with other destinations) can enter Dhaka city, he said.
The East West Elevated Expressway (EWEE) project will link Chattogram and the southern parts of Bangladesh to the north and west of the country. Eventually the route will form part of a ring road around Dhaka.
The prime minister also urged expediting the process for the construction of 4-5 kitchen markets outside Dhaka city instead of only Karwan Bazar Kitchen Market as the supply of kitchen items might go up further due to construction of Padma Bridge, he said.
All citizens aged 18-50 can join universal pension scheme: Cabinet clears a draft law
The Cabinet on Monday cleared the draft of Universal Pension Management Act, 2022 in order to bring the growing elderly population under a sustainable and social safety net.
The approval came at the cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office here.
“All Bangladeshi nationals aged from 18 to 50 years can participate in this pension scheme. And the expatriate Bangladeshis can also take part in it. They (expatriates) can get registered and provide premium,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
He said the Finance Division has placed the draft of Universal Pension Management Act, 2022 aiming to bring the growing elderly population under a sustainable social safety net for the causes of unemployment, disease, paralysis, old age or other similar conditions, or penury amid the high life expectancy rate.
Anwarul Islam said the Cabinet gave the final approval to the draft law on condition of vetting by the Legislative Division. “If the legislative Division will okay it, then it will go to parliament,” he said.
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As per the draft law, a person will have to provide premium for at least 10 years to get pension from the age of 60 until his death, said Anwarul.
If an elderly person dies before the age 75 years, the nominee will get the pension for the remaining time, he said citing an example that if anyone dies at 62, his/her nominee will get pension for 13 years.
However, the amount of premium will be determined by a rule under the proposed law, he added.
According to the proposed law, there will be a five-member national pension authority headed by a chairman and also a 15-member governing body with the finance minister as its chair, said the Cabinet Secretary.
In February last, PM Hasina directed the authorities concerned to work out a universal pension scheme for the people aged above 60 and those who worked in the informal sector in line with the election manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League.
She also witnessed a presentation of "Introduction of Universal Pension System '' which was made by the Finance Division.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has recently announced a plan to introduce a Universal Pension Scheme in the country from the upcoming fiscal year of 2022-23.
He said the implementation of the universal pension scheme will bring a large number of citizens from both the formal and informal sectors under the institutional social safety net.
Besides, the Cabinet in principle approved the draft of the Press Council (Amendment) Act, 2022 with a provision of monetary fine for fake journalism.
But the amount of fine will depend on the discretion of the press council as the cabinet turned down a proposal for keeping a fixed amount of fine for harming or breaking the security of the State, public order and morality.
“The Cabinet rejected the proposal of a fixed fine …. Instead, it has been kept on discretion (of the press council),” said the Cabinet Secretary.
He, however, said the draft law will come back to the Cabinet as it didn’t get the final approval yet.
The proposed law was designed bringing amendment to the existing law of 1974 with a view to improve and maintain the standard of the newspapers and news agencies as well as remove false journalism, he said.
In reply to a question, Anwarul said the news agencies mean all print and digital media.
The council can voluntarily take offenses in cognizance, he said.
There will be a 17-member press council instead of the existing 14-member one as per the draft law, he said.
Moreover, the Cabinet cleared a proposal for Bangladesh to sign and ratify Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published works for persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled.
The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted in 2013 in Marrakesh, Morocco by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to address the widespread problem known as a “book famine,” the situation where few books are published in formats that are accessible to those who are blind or visually impaired.
Moreover, the Cabinet cancelled its previous decision over the formation of Sovereign Wealth Fund, which was taken in 2015.
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Cabinet approves national budget for FY2022-23
The Cabinet at a special meeting on Thursday approved the proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2022-23.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting held at the cabinet room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and other Cabinet ministers and state ministers concerned attended the meeting.
The finance minister is set to unveil the proposed national budget for the 2022-23 fiscal this afternoon, after the authentication of the budget by the President.
Also read: Gender budget framework needs to be redesigned, say discussants at a pre-budget dialogue
AHM Mustafa Kamal is scheduled to start unveiling his budget of 6.80 lakh crore at the Jatiya Sangsad at 3:00 pm.
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This is the country’s 51st budget and the 23rd of the Awami League government in five terms.
Cabinet clears RTA policy to protect export markets in post-graduation era
The Cabinet on Monday cleared the draft of Bengali and English versions of Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) Policy, 2022 in a bid to protect and expand the country’s export markets overcoming the post-graduation challenges.
The approval came from the Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in chair at her office.
Since Bangladesh has graduated from the status of a least developed country (LDC), it needs to come trade agreements with many countries, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
“To protect and expand our export markets as well as ensure duty-free access for our products by overcoming the challenges of LDC graduation, we’ve taken steps to go for regional trade agreements. So, the policy has been taken for it (signing RTAs),” he said.
Besides, the meeting approved the draft of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation Act, 2022 in a view to making the industrial entities under the BSCIC more effective, said the Cabinet Secretary.
The proposed law will particularly promote women entrepreneurs as the existing law -Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation Act, 1957— is an old one, which hadn’t focused on women properly.
The Cabinet also approved in principle the draft of International Mother Language Institute (Amendment) Act, 2022 aiming to form a language research trust under the institute.
Scholarship and fellowship will be given from the permanent fund of the trust for language research and development, said Anwarul Islam adding that its name will be ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Language Research Trust.’
READ: Cabinet orders prompt action against rice hoarders
The meeting endorsed the ratification proposal for an agreement to be signed between Bangladesh and Oman on the mutual visa exemption for the holders of diplomatic, official, special or service passports.
The cabinet approved the proposal for providing the transit facilities to Nepal under the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal-Motor Vehicle Agreement (BBIN-MVA) by cancelling its earlier decision over the Operating Modalities for the Carriage of Transit Cargo between Nepal and Bangladesh.
Padma Bridge to be open to a super-gorgeous ceremony: Cabinet Secy
The inauguration of Padma Bridge will be 'super gorgeous' as there will be replication of the original gala event in all the 64 districts in the country simultaneously, said the Cabinet Secretary.
The long-cherished Padma Bridge is scheduled to be opened to traffic on June 25 next.