The Zakat Fund Management Bill -2023 was passed in Parliament on Wednesay, aiming to make Zakat (obligatory charity in Islam)  an important tool to eradicate poverty from the country. As per the proposed Bill, it also aims to engage a zakat receiver in any profession or activity to make the person self-reliant and rehabilitated. State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan moved the bill and it was passed by voice vote. The proposed 'Zakat Fund Management Act, 2023' will replace the Zakat Fund Ordinance, 1982. Also read: JS passes bill to introduce Universal Pension Scheme The Bill said that there will be a Zakat Board consisting of 13 members. Religious Affairs Minister or State Minister will be the Chairman of that Board. Other members are-the Secretary of the Religious Affairs Ministry, an official from the ministry with minimum joint secretary level, an official of the Finance Ministry with minimum  joint secretary level, an official with minimum joint secretary level from the legislative and parliamentary affairs division, government selected five eminent islamic scholars (Fakih), two representatives from country’s trade body organisation and the Director-General of the Islamic Foundation. Their appointment will be valid for three years and they will hold at least two meetings per year. A fund will be formed called the Zakat Fund which shall consist of voluntary payment of Zakat by the Muslims. After the law is enacted, anyone from home and abroad will be able to give zakat at any government scheduled bank. The moneys credited to the Fund shall be kept in non-interest bearing accounts of scheduled banks. As per the objective of the Bill, Islam is a complete religion and way of life. Zakat is an important provision for the socio-economic welfare and security of people. Allah has made Zakat obligatory upon a compliant Muslim who possesses a Nisab amount of wealth as determined by the Shari'ah.  Zakat is a tool for poverty alleviation and rehabilitation. Zakat is not a voluntary donation, rather Zakat is a fixed portion of the wealth of the rich to be paid to the poor and needy by Allah.  Although zakat system has been in operation at the individual level for a long time in this country, the desired benefits were not being obtained from zakat due to various reasons.  Poverty was once possible to be eradicated throughout the Muslim world through the system of Zakat.  Therefore, the government formed the Zakat Board by enacting The Zakat Fund Ordinance, 1982 for the purpose of proper utilisation of Zakat and the permanent welfare of the destitute Muslims according to the provisions of Islam. The Zakat Fund Management Bill -2023 was placed in parliament in order to repeal the military regime ordinance in line with a verdict of the High Court.    

The Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed in Parliament on Wednesday, seeking to raise the pecuniary jurisdiction of lower court judges for disposing of civil cases.

The Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed in Parliament on Monday keeping a provision of maximum six months’ imprisonment or Tk 5 lakh fine or both in the case of violation of any provision under the proposed law. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote.

The ‘Narcotics Control (Amendment) Bill, 2020’ was passed in Parliament on Thursday dropping the provision of setting up separate narcotic control tribunals to pave the way for competent courts to try narcotic-related crimes.

The ‘Companies (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2020’ was passed in Parliament on Wednesday keeping a provision of formation of one-man companies, aiming to attract greater investment and do better in the global ease of doing business ranking.

The ‘Sunamganj Science and Technology University Bill 2020’ was passed in Parliament on Wednesday allowing the authorities concerned to establish one more science and technology university in the country.

The ‘Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation Bill, 2020’ was passed in Parliament on Tuesday, paving the way for offloading 49 percent share of the corporation in the capital market.   Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader moved the Bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote.   According to the proposed law, the government will own 51 percent shares while 49 percent will be offloaded for the public.   The bill was placed to update an ordinance promulgated in 1961 keeping a provision to offload the shares of BRTC in the capital market.   The authorised capital of the BRTC will be Tk 1,000 crore which will be divided into 100 crore general shares with Tk 10 base price. The authorised capital of the corporation under the existing law is only Tk 6 crore.   The paid-up capital of the corporation is Tk 3 crore in the existing law. Its amount has not been fixed in the proposed law as the BRTC annual general meeting or special general meeting will fix the amount of the paid-up capital but it cannot exceed the amount of the authorised capital.   There will be a 23-member board of directors instead of the existing 11-member one. These directors will come from Local Government Division, Cabinet Division, Finance Division, Road Transport and Highways Division, Public Security Division, Shipping Ministry, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, Roads and Highways Department, representatives from the shareholders and one member from every administrative division.   If the amount of shares of the public is from 20 percent to 34 percent of the paid-up capital, then there will be one director from the shareholders while the number will be two if the share of the public is from 34 percent to 49 percent.   The board of directors will at least hold four meetings in a year.     In the bill, a new provision has been incorporated among the functions of the BRTC that it will render transport services during emergency situation like hartal (strike), blockade, transport strike, emergency condition, national disaster, Biswa Ijtema, freedom fighters’ rally and in the case of emergency need of the state.   The corporation can form one and more companies taking prior permission from the government.