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Patents bill placed in Parliament
Bangladesh Patents Bill, 2021 was placed in Parliament aiming to make the century-old patent law more time-befitting one and strengthen the safeguard of intellectual property rights.
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun placed the bill in the House, which was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny. The committee was asked to submit its report within 30 days.
According to the bill, the owner will be given the patent of any innovation for 20 years and then it will become public property. A registrar office will be there to issue or cancel patents of any single inventor or joint inventors of a technical innovation under the proposed law.
Also read: Cabinet clears Bangladesh Patent Bill
On February22, 2021, the Cabinet cleared the draft of Bangladesh Patents Bill 2021, which will repeal the patent related provisions in ‘Patents and Designs Act, 1911.’
Boilers Bill
Besides, the Industries Minister placed the Boilers Bill, 2021 in the House aiming to check boiler-related accidents and ensure a safer work environment in industrial mills by constructing and using standard boilers there.
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Later, the bill was sent to the respective parliamentary committee. The committee was asked to submit its report within 30 days.
The bill will replace the Boiler Act, 1923.
JS passes Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Bill
The Bangladesh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed in Parliament on Saturday allowing the government to form an ad-hoc committee for a maximum one-year tenure to arrange Bar Council elections in an unusual situation.
Law Minister Anisul Huq piloted the Bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote.
The Bill was placed in Parliament on Friday.
Also read: Legal Practitioners and Bar Council (Amendment) Bill lands in JS
On Wednesday, the minister placed the Bangladesh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 in the House.
It was approved by the Cabinet on July 26 and later the President promulgated the Ordinance on July 28.
The ordinance was promulgated as Parliament was not there in session at that time. As per rules, the ordinance was placed in Parliament on the first day of the session for its approval.
The Bill has a provision of allowing the government to form an ad-hoc committee for a maximum one-year tenure to arrange the Bar Council election in an unusual situation.
It said if the regular Bar Council election cannot be held by May 31 after every three years, the government can form a 15-member ad-hoc committee for a maximum one year.
In the existing Bangladesh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Order, 1972, there is no alternative provision, if the regular election cannot be arranged in time due to any natural disaster or something else like ‘acts of God’.
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It said elections to the Bar Council shall always be held so as to conclude on or before the [thirty first day of May] in the year in which the term of the Bar Council expires.
It said if the elections to the Bar Council cannot be held within the time specified in clause due to pandemic, epidemic, act of God or for any other unavoidable circumstances as may be determined by the government from time to time, the government may, by notification in the official Gazette, constitute an Ad-hoc Bar Council consisting of fifteen members for a term not exceeding one year and this term shall not be further extended.
The Attorney-General of Bangladesh shall be one of the members of the Ad-hoc Bar Council and shall also be its chairman, it said.
“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Order, the Ad-hoc Bar Council shall exercise such powers and functions of the Bar Council as specified in this Order and the rules made thereunder,” it added.
Gandhi Ashram Bill placed in JS to replace ordinance
The Gandhi Ashram (Board of Trustees) Bill, 2021 was placed in Parliament to replace the related Ordinance that was promulgated during the military regime and declared illegal by the court.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haq placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective Parliamentary Standing Committee for examination. The Committee was asked to submit its report within 60 days.
READ: Parliament passes Finance Bill, allows whitening of undisclosed money
The Gandhi Ashram (Board of Trustees) Bill, 2021 was designed in Bengali version incorporating no new provisions in the Gandhi Ashram (Board of Trustees) Ordinance, 1975.
According to the proposed law, the government will appoint the chairman of the seven-member board of trustees.
The Chairman and the other Trustees shall hold office for a period of three years. But the government may terminate the appointment of the Chairman or any other Trustee before the expiration of the term.
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The head office of the Board shall be at Jayag in the district of Noakhali. The regional office or branch can be set up in other places taking prior permission from the government.
Updated Bankers’ Book Evidence coming, Bill placed
The Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill 2021, defining the digitally recorded documents as such evidence under the proposed law, was placed in Parliament on Monday.
Though there is already a law to deal with it, the draft of the new law was brought to incorporate digitally-recorded evidence in it.
Read:Bill placed in JS with provision of archiving all records
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal placed the Bill in the House and it was sent to the respective Parliamentary Standing Committee for further scrutiny. The Committee was asked to submit its report within one month.
The proposed law is going to replace the old Bankers’ Book Evidence Act 1891 as many things in the current law are not consistent with the present-day situation.
Besides, the banks are now working digitally which was not mentioned in the previous law and the draft law has stated it clearly.
Read: Cabinet approves draft Finance Company Bill
The proposed law has suggested making information public except those of private one after taking permission from the court and fixing the authorities who can do that.
The new law also states some offences, punishments and trial to prevent unauthorised and the behind-scene leak of any information.
The proposed law defines the jurisdiction of the court for any bank-related information, which is totally prohibited in the old one.
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Some of the information have been opened up in the new law, axing the privileged and personal information, which will be authorised to publish the information.
Bill placed in JS to deal with irregularities in Hajj, Umrah sector
The Hajj and Umrah Management Bill, 2021 was placed in Parliament on Sunday to deal with irregularities and mismanagement in the sector.State Minister for Religious Affairs Ministry Md Faridul Haque Khan placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective Standing Committee for further scrutiny. The committee was asked to submit its report within 40 days.
It was seen that when the government makes a move against any hajj agency, it brings a stay order from the High Court challenging the action.
Also read: Bill placed in JS to establish Medical University in Khulna
So, a legal structure is needed to deal with hajj management. Without having registration under the proposed law, no one will be able to deal with Hajj pilgrims. And the registration authority can take action against irregularities.
According to the bill, the registration of any Hajj and Umrah agency can be cancelled for anomalies.
Also, a Hajj agency can be slapped with a fine of maximum Tk 50 lakh, while an Umrah agency with Tk 15 lakh for irregularities.
If any agency gets warnings for two years in a row, its registration will automatically be suspended for the same period. Also, lawsuits can be filed against criminal offences committed in the Hajj and Umrah management.
After the enactment of the new law, if a Bangladeshi gets involved in Hajj-related irregularities even in Saudi Arabia, it can be treated that it happened in Bangladesh and legal steps including criminal and administrative actions can be taken.
Bill placed in JS to ensure welfare of film artistes
The Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Welfare Trust Bill, 2021, was placed in Parliament on Sunday, aiming to ensure welfare of film artistes as well as provide financial support to insolvent and ailing ones.
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective Standing Committee for further scrutiny. The Committee was asked to submit its report within 45 days.
The main objectives of the bill are ensuring welfare of film actors and actress, providing financial support to insolvent and ailing artistes, necessary assistance to the family members in case of death of an artiste, and implementing other programmes to be taken by the trust.
There will be a 13-member board headed by the information minister as its chairman to run the trust.
Also read: Bill placed in JS to raise lower court judges’ pecuniary jurisdiction for trying civil suits
A managing director will be there to act as the executive chief of the trust.
The trust can receive grants and loans for its operation and it will have to take prior permission in this regard.
Bill tabled to make registration of tour operators, guides mandatory
‘The Bangladesh Tour Operators and Tour Guides (Registration and Operation) Bill, 2021’ was placed in Parliament on Saturday, making it mandatory for tour operators and guides to get registered.
It was prepared aiming to bring the tour operators under the legal framework for ensuring the best services and thus give a boost to the tourism sector.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective Standing Committee for further scrutiny. The Committee was asked to submit its report within one month.
As per the proposed law, a touring company will have to collect a license. No company will be allowed to operate tours without registration. If anyone does, it would be tried under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The proposed law also has a provision of handing over the registration to another tour operator in case of death, physical and financial incapability.
Also read: 12th session of Parliament begins
The draft law suggested that criminal acts of the tour operators will be tried under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 aimed at protecting the interest of the tourists.
As proposed, the activities of tour operators, tour guides, general tour guides, cultural guides, nature guides and trekking guides will now be regulated.
Now, there’s no guideline and rule for tour operators in the country.
The conditions for getting registration, period of registration and provisions for cancellation of registration have been mentioned in the bill.
Also read:JS session goes into session on Jan 18
It has precisely been defined in the bill who can be tour operators and tour guides.
Once the bill is passed, it will make tour operators operate properly within legal framework, the tourism sector will flourish, the revenue of government will increase and it will be easier to avail the tour services, the Bill stated in its objective.
Bill to ensure proportionate use of iodine in salt placed in JS
The Iodised Salt Bill, 2021, aiming to ensure proportionate use of iodine in salt and regulate the salt market in the country was placed in Parliament on Wednesday.
Tests of chemicals at micro level to be possible, Bill placed
The Designated Reference Institute for Chemical Measurements, Bangladesh Bill, 2020 was placed in Parliament on Tuesday, aiming to facilitate it to conduct the tests of chemicals at micro level.
Bill placed to allow courts to hold virtual trial proceedings
A Bill was introduced in Parliament on Tuesday to empower courts to run trial proceedings through videoconferences and other digital means using the information technology.