The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Land Ministry on Thursday suggested taking necessary steps to free the land, waterbodies and ponds from illegal occupation across the country.The parliamentary watchdog in its 17th meeting came up with the recommendation with its chairman Makbul Hossain MP in the chair at the Parliament Bhaban.It also recommended taking steps to recruit lawyers for handling government cases related to land. JS body for recruiting necessary manpower in CMHsElaborate discussion was held in the meeting on ‘Land Development Tax Bill-2023 and the illegally occupied land, water bodies and ponds across the country.The committee suggested placing the Land Development Tax Bill-2023 before the parliament with some addition and amendment. JS body recommends forming committee to rename roads, culverts after Freedom FightersMembers of the committee Saifuzzaman Chwodhury, Manoronjan Sheel Gopal, Habibor Rahman, Umme Fatema Nazma Begum, Ziaur Rahman, Khan Ahmed, Secretary to the land ministry, chairman of Land Reformation Board, representatives of legislative and parliament affairs department and official concerned of the parliament secretariat were present there.Acquisition and Tenancy (Amendment) Bill passed in JS to ease case backlog

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Liberation War Affairs Ministry on Sunday recommended forming a five-member committee at the upazila level to rename the roads, culverts or bridges and social organisations in the name of freedom fighters. The recommendation came from the 36th meeting of the parliamentary body, held at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhaban with its chairman Shajahan Khan in the chair. Sheikh Russel Rural Development Academy in Rangpur nodded in JS The committee also held an elaborate discussion on the Swadhinata Stambha (Independence Monument, third phase) project at the Suhrawardy Uddyan, the final report of the no 11 sub-committee and decisions taken during the 35th meeting of the committee. An illustrated presentation on the development activities of Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust was displayed during the meeting. Industry Design Bill passed in JS to protect intellectual property rights  The meeting also suggested taking steps for changing the design of the gravestones of the freedom fighters across the country. Committee members Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Major (Retd) Rafiqul Islam Bir Uttam, AB Tajul Islam and Kazi Firoz Rashid were present at the meeting. IAB demands next JS election under ‘national govt’

The relevant parliamentary standing committee on Wednesday recommended the government to take necessary steps to protect farmers from lightning strikes alongside raising public awareness in this regard. It also asked the government to consider the allocation of cash money instead of rice to recover from the damages in the disaster-hit areas. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Disaster Management and Relief Ministry came up with the recommendations at its 29th meeting held in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhaban with its chairman AB Tajul Islam in the chair. Read more: 12 killed in lightning strikes, a high for the year The parliamentary watchdog suggested the ministry keep a reserve fund to face any emergency situation arising out of atural disasters. Committee members Aftab Uddin Sarker, Mir Mushtaque Ahmed Robi, Jewel Areng and Masud Uddin Chowdhury attended the meeting. The Disaster Management and Relief Secretary and the Director General of Disaster Management and Relief Directorate, among other high officials, were present at the meeting, said a Parliament release.  

The Parliamentary standing committee on the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry recommended putting pressure on the Foreign Ministry for expediting the Rohingya repatriation in an effort to mitigate internal law and order and environmental risks created by hodting the displaced Rohingyas. The recommendation was made at the committee’s 28th meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital with its chairman AB Tajul Islam, on Sunday. The committee also held an elaborate discussion on the ongoing projects approved by the committee and its progress and necessary steps about tackling fire incidents, flood risk, lightning and nor’westers. It also suggested taking effective steps so that the ongoing construction work of different bridges and culverts across the country can be visible before the next monsoon. The meeting also stressed the importance of the research of different universities and private research institutes to control lightning and creating public awareness. Secretary to the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, Director General of the Department of Disaster Management and Relief and official concerned of Bangladesh National Parliament Secretariat were present among others.  

A parliamentary watchdog has recommended taking necessary steps to stop plying of already declared illegal battery-run three wheelers on the highways under the eight divisions to ensure road safety. The recommendation came on Monday at 15th meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Road Transport and Bridges ministry at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with its chairman Rowshan Ara Mannan MP, in the chair. The committee also asked the ministry to take the steps with the coordination of divisional commissioners, deputy inspector generals and additional inspector generals of police (Highway) based in the eight divisions. The meeting also held an elaborate discussion on the latest activities and progress on the ongoing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project connecting Gazipur with the capital city. Expressing dissatisfaction over the printing of smart driving license and its distribution, the committee also asked the authorities concerned to inform about the distribution process soon. Read: Expedite work on Sheikh Hasina Nakshipalli Jamalpur project: JS body It also recommended necessary steps about training for newly appointed employees of Roads and Highways Department.   Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and other committee members including Enamul Hoque, Abu Zahir, Rezwan Ahmed Toufique, Salim Uddin and Sheikh Salahuddin were present.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Youth and Sports Ministry on Tuesday recommended the government to take steps for immediately opening all the country’s unused and locked stadiums for the development of sports. The recommendation came at the 16th meeting of the parliamentary watchdog held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with its chairman Abdullah Al Islam Jakob in the chair, said a Parliament handout. In the meeting, the committee asked the ministry to complete the unfinished works of a project soon to make upazila-level Sheikh Russel mini stadiums ready for sports. Also read: Tougher maritime law in the offing; bill placed in JS The parliamentary body suggested the ministry to take necessary measures to upgrade the post of Youth Development Officer under the Department of Youth Development to class-I post. The meeting also discussed the activities of the National Sports Council and Bangladesh Cycling Federation. The committee congratulated its member and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan (Papan) as he was reelected the BCB president unopposed. Also read: JS passes Kurigram Agricultural University Bill The parliamentary body also thanked Papan as he announced there to provide modern bicycles to the Bangladesh Cycling Federation. Other committee members- State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel, Mahbub Ara Begum Gini, Abdus Salam Murshedi, Jewel Areng and Zakia Tabassum- attended the meeting.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Ministry on Tuesday recommended recruiting teachers  in 1,585 vacant posts in the primary schools in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) areas. It also suggested nationalising 142 primary schools under special consideration in the CHT areas under a project that was taken to establish 1000 primary schools in the villages where there is no school. The parliamentary standing committee came up with the recommendations at its 9th meeting held in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhaban with its chairman Alhaj Md Dabirul Islam in the chair. The parliamentary watchdog also asked the government to shift the responsibility of recruiting Doptori (employee) of primary schools to District Councils from the District Administrators (Deputy Commissioners) as per the rules and policy formulated in line with the CHT Peace Accord. Read: Cabinet body okays proposal for setting up 42,500 solar systems in 3 hill districts In the meeting, it was said that a total of 1048 head teachers and 6789 assistant teachers are teaching in the primary schools in three CHT districts. Committee members CHT Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing (Bandarban), Dipankar Talukdar (Rangamati), A.B.M. Fazle Karim Chowdhury (Chattogram-6), Kujendra Lal Tripura, Mir Mushtaque Ahmed Robi (Satkhira-2) and Basanti Chakma (Women Seat-9) attended the meeting. The CHT Affairs Secretary and other officials from the ministry and the parliament secretariat were present at the meeting, said a Jatiya Sangsad handout.

The parliamentary standing committee on ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday recommended lowering the age limit to receive Covid vaccines further from the existing 25 years. It also asked the government to promptly complete the ongoing recruitment of physicians (2,000 assistant surgeons) following the recommendation of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission.    The parliamentary committee made the recommendations at its 10th meeting, held with its chairman Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim in the chair at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhaban, said a Parliament handout. READ: PM’s intervention sought over JS body’s suggestion on female officials in FF guard of honour The committee also suggested the government to take necessary steps for the quick disbursement from the stimulus package, announced by the Prime Minister, among the families of the physicians, nurses and health workers who died of Covid. In the meeting, the latest coronavirus situation was discussed and three bills – Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Bill, 2021; Medical Colleges (Governing Bodies) (Repeal) Bill, 2021; and Medical Degrees (Repeal) Bill, 2021 were reviewed. The parliamentary watchdog recommended the government to follow the Government-to-Government (G2G) method in order to make the vaccine production and inoculation easier. A subcommittee was formed with AFM Ruhal Haque as its convener to scrutinize Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Bill, 2021 further. The committee finalised its reports after completing the scrutiny of Medical Colleges (Governing Bodies) (Repeal) Bill, 2021; and Medical Degrees (Repeal) Bill, 2021. READ: JS body for reopening closed jute mills  Committee members AFM Ruhal Haque (Satkhira-3), Mohibur Rahman Manik (Sunamganj-5), Md Mansur Rahman (Rajshahi-5), Md Abdul Aziz (Sirajganj-3), Sayeda Zakia Noor (Kishoreganj-1) and Md Amirul Alam Milon (Bagerhat-4) attended the meeting. The Health Services Division Secretary and the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services were among the high officials who were present at the meeting.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and Employment Ministry on Thursday recommended making the closed state-owned jute mills functional through modernisation with local and foreign financing.

The monthly honorarium for a freedom fighter is going to be raised to Tk 20,000 from Tk 12,000 in the current fiscal year as a proposal in this regard has recently been sent to the Finance Ministry.