Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday directed the authorities concerned to design a separate programme to bring the industrial workers and their families under the Covid-19 vaccination coverage soon.

She also asked to consider whether it would be possible to shorten the existing two-month gap between two vaccine doses.

Read:Bangladesh to receive over 6.34 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan Aug 28

The Prime Minister made the directives while chairing the Cabinet meeting held through a virtual platform, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam at a press briefing.

Sheikh Hasina joined the meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban and others from the Cabinet Room of the Secretariat.

“A special discussion was held over the industrial workers today (in the meeting)…. Since Bangladesh would get six crore doses of vaccine from Sinopharm as per an agreement signed by the Health Ministry, the Prime Minister gave the instruction to vaccinate the workers quickly bringing them under a separate programme,” said the Cabinet Secretary.

Besides, the PM said that she would herself oversee the matter.

“The Prime Minister has given instruction to vaccinate not only the workers but also their family members as forerunners,” said Anwarul Islam.

Read:1st phase of vaccination drive for Rohingyas ends in Cox's Bazar

The Cabinet gave the final approval to the draft of Bangladesh Supreme Court Judges (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 2021 in order to replace the existing ordinance of 1978.

A provision of cook allowance for the judges was incorporated in the draft law, while the sumptuary allowance for the judges – the Chief Justice, judges of the Appellate Division and the High Court—was increased, said the Cabinet Secretary.   

The meeting also cleared the draft of Bangladesh Supreme Court Judges (Travelling Allowance) Act, 2021 in a bid to replace an ordinance of 1976.

“Only some minor changes were brought to the proposed law as allowances were increased slightly to make these time-befitting,” said Anwarul Islam.

Read:Field admin, public representatives asked to communicate regularly: Cabinet Secretary

The Cabinet gave the final approval to the draft of Bangladesh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Act, 2021 with a provision of allowing the government to form an ad-hoc committee for maximum one-year tenure to arrange the Bar Council election in an unusual situation.

The meeting approved a proposal for declaring October 18 as Sheikh Russel Day, commemorating the birthday of the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The day would be included in the Class ‘Ka’ of the circular issued by the Cabinet Division.