United News of Bangladesh

The Council of Advisers in its meeting on Thursday approved six ordinances and three proposals and reviewed the performance of the interim government since its formation in August 2024. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus chaired the meeting. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy, saying the Council discussed a number of agenda items and granted the approvals. The Council gavev the final approval to the draft ordinances of the Workplace and Educational Institutions Ordinance 2026, the Domestic Violence Prevention Ordinance 2026, the Bangladesh Gas (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, the Postal Service Ordinance 2026, the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026, and the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award Trust (Amendment) Ordinance 2026. Alam said following the approval of the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award Trust (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, the name of the award will be changed to the National Agriculture Award. Besides, the Council approved a proposal to exempt 7.5 percent VAT on locally produced LP gas at the production and trader levels, as well as a 2 percent advance tax on imports, while imposing only a 7.5 percent VAT at the import stage. Alam said the overall tax burden on LP gas will be reduced, which is expected to further lower LP gas prices in the domestic market. The Council also approved another proposal to establish the Urban Safety and Resilience Institute (USRI) Bangladesh as a public trust under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Interim govt to handover power to elected govt by Feb 17-18 Although the name of the institution may be changed in the future, the Press Secretary said the proposal to establish it has been approved. The Advisers approved a proposal to fix office hours during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.

The Council of Advisers on Thursday approved the draft of the Election Officials (Special Provision) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 in a bid to empower the Election Commission (EC) with stronger authority to take punitive actions against election officials in cases of irregularities and negligence in polls duty. Besides, the Council also approved the draft of Election Commission Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 with a view to establishing an ‘Election Commission Service’ for recruiting officials for the EC Secretariat and expanding their functions. The approval came from the Council’s meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the Chief Adviser’s Office in the capital. “Due to the two proposed laws, the works of the Election Commission will speed up ahead of the election. And they (EC) will be able to take many measures very quickly,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy after the meeting.