Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Bill passed

The parliament has passed the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Bill 2018 for establishing a peaceful society, maintaining communal harmony, and ensuring welfare of the Buddhist community living in the country. Railways Minister Mazibul Hoque, in absence of Religious Affairs Minister Matior Rahman, on Tuesday moved the bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote. The bill was brought to amend the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Ordinance of 1983. The effectiveness of the ordinance became obsolete with the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1986, being declared illegal. According to the bill, there will be a trustee board consisting of 12 members where the religious affairs minister will be the chairman of the board. The headquarters of the board will be in Dhaka.