The cabinet approved the draft of “Bangladesh Council of Science and Industry Research (BCSIR) Act, 2013” Monday, extending the retirement age of the institute’s scientists by eight years.
The approval came at a regular cabinet meeting held at the secretariat, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Two other draft acts, “Bangladesh Handloom Board Act, 2013” and “National Integrated Multi-modal Transport Policy, 2013,” were also approved.
At a press briefing post-meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the drafts of BCSIR and Handloom Board acts were tabled as per an earlier instruction of the cabinet, since those were enacted during the tenure of a military government.
All acts and ordinances passed by the two past military regimes became invalidated as a consequence of a High Court order, which declared nondemocratic governments illegal.
Mosharraf said the cabinet had earlier decided to revise the most important of those acts and ordinances and turn them into laws, and ordered involved ministries to prepare and table new drafts.
Regarding the BCSIR act, he said it was part of the government’s decision to “get the most” out of experienced scientists. The retirement age of scientists employed by the institute was extended to 67 years of age, from 59.
If the authorities of other institutes want to extend the service period of their scientists, they too may submit their proposals to the government, he added.
According to the amended law, BCSIR will have the authority to “assist” scientists who are not involved with the institute and also to set up scientific research centers anywhere in the country.
The cabinet also approved the draft law on multimodal transport policy giving importance to airways, railways and waterways in order to reduce dependency on roads.
In this regard, the cabinet secretary said the law would, among other things, reduce transport costs and accidents, ensure passenger safety and make the transport sector environment-friendly. “It was prepared considering the future of the country.”
The law would also improve communication in both rural and urban areas and increase participation of private investors in the sector, he added.
According to the draft, women, senior citizens and physically disabled individuals will get “special advantages” while travelling.
There will be a cabinet committee to monitor the improvement of the sector, as well as a national coordination committee to implement the decisions taken, he said, adding the latter would report to the former about its activities.
Mosharraf then told the reporters that no major changes were brought in the draft of Bangladesh Handloom Board Act. Most of the provisions of the existing act were kept unchanged in the amended one.
