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JS passes Bangladesh Veterinary Council Bill
Dhaka, July 7 (UNB) - Bangladesh Veterinary Council Bill, 2019 was passed in Parliament on Sunday to maintain the professional standard of veterinary practitioners and extend quality healthcare services for fighting animal diseases.
State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock M Ashraf Ali Khan Khosru moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote.
The proposed law will be enacted through replacing the Bangladesh Veterinary Practitioners Ordinance, 1982.
A 13-member council will be formed headed by the Director General of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and the operation and administration of the council will be operated by an executive committee.
The council will establish the legal right and facilities of the veterinary practitioners and paravets.
Registered veterinary practitioners are entitled to add ‘doctor’ title with their names, but the paravets are not entitled to add ‘doctor’ title with their names as per the proposed law, according to the bill.
If anyone gets involved in veterinary practice without registration and certificate, he/she will be imprisoned for three years or fined maximum Tk 2 lakh or both.
Two years of imprisonment or Tk 5 lakh fine or both will be applicable if any institute runs veterinary education without approval from the council or runs any veterinary clinic or diagnostic centre.
Gas price hike aimed at creating LPG market, alleges Menon
Dhaka, July 7 (UNB) - Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon on Sunday alleged that the recent gas price hike was aimed at creating a market for LPG in the country.
Speaking in Parliament standing on the point of order, he also said such hike in the gas price without discussion in the House is a disregard to the House by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Berc).
Citing the minister concerned that the price hike was made to adjust the gas price and reduce the subsidy, Menon said whereas India is importing 1000 cft LNG at a price of US$ 6.5, Bangladesh is procuring it at US$ 10.5.
He said the government has already increased the LPG price by 32 percent. “Now, we see that by this price adjustment, the price of LPG has also been increased. When the supply of CNG will be stopped, CNG stations will be turned into LPG stations. Now, this is the matter of debate whether this decision of price hike has been taken to create the market for LPG,” he said.
The Workers Party chief said the hike will make impacts on household, industries and transportation which means there will be an effect on the whole economy.
“There’s reaction among the people ….there’re resentment and disappointment among them. I’m myself also disappointed. Because, in the budget discussion, I praised the state minister for power and energy for his success and asked him to discuss the price hike matter in Parliament so that all MPs can participate in it,” he said.
Menon said after the approval of the budget, the decision of gas price hike came within only four hours. “This is a complete disregard to Parliament… this was done just bypassing Parliament. Honourable Speaker you’re the guardian of the House. You must look after the matter,” he said addressing Deputy Speaker Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah who was in the chair at that time.
He urged the Speaker to ask the state minister for power to inform the House of the matter. “The government will take the decision and there’s no doubt about it. But it’s the responsibility of the government to listen to the people and obey Parliament,” he said.
He said that Berc held mass hearings and there was a case pending with the court regarding the matter. “The gas price was increased bypassing that case. So, the decision is illegal and defamatory to the court. They defamed Parliament and the court and above all people,” he added.
Menon also called upon the Speaker to allow his notice submitted for discussing the matter in the House.
He also said Jasod MP Hasanul Haq Inu, AL MP Moin Uddin Khan Badal, Workers Party MP Fazle Hossain Badsha, Mustafa Lutfullah and Lutfun Nesa Khan also signed the notice.
Govt to buy more paddy from farmers if necessary: Minister
Naogaon, Jul 7 (UNB) - Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Sunday said that the government will buy more paddy directly from the farmers, if its price continues to fall in the market.
Enam Ahmed inducted into AL advisory council
Dhaka, Jul 7 (UNB) – Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, who joined Awami League in December last parting his ways with BNP, has been made an advisory council member of the ruling party.
Probe ‘plundering’ in power, gas sector: Gonoforum
Dhaka, July 7 (UNB) – Gonoforum on Sunday demanded the formation of a probe body, comprising experts, to look into the plundering of government allocation for gas and power sector.
CSOs, NGOs want recognition as ‘development actors’
Dhaka, July 7 (UNB)- Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) at a National Convention for localization demand their recognition as development actors of Bangladesh.
105 appointed as Assistant Attorneys General
Dhaka, Jul 7 (UNB) – A total of 105 Supreme Court lawyers have been appointed as Assistant Attorneys General of the state as per the Law Officers Order, 1972.
9th Wage Board remains to be declared ‘soon’
Dhaka, Jul 7 (UNB)- The 9th wage board for journalists and employees of newspapers and news agencies will be declared soon.
State Minister for Information Dr M Murad Hasan, in absence of Information Minister Mohammed Hasan Mahmud, said this in the Parliament while responding to a question of treasury bench MP Abul Kalam M Ahsanul Haque Chowdhury.
He also said that a seven-member cabinet committee led by Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader was formed to scrutinise the report of the Wage Board.
He said that the cabinet committee already held meetings with all the stakeholders.
Responding to a supplementary question of Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman, the minister said that the internet news portal owners were asked to submit application with the ministry by July 15 for getting registration.
He said the eligible news portals will get registered by the ministry after scrutinizing the applications.
He also said that the ministry also will take necessary steps to control 'fake and defamatory' news by news portals.
He said that the ministry is monitoring contents of print, electronic and internet news portals to check the 'fake' news.
Responding to another question by Awami League MP Ali Azam, the minister said that number of registered newspapers in the country is 3,128.
Animal Welfare Bill passed
Dhaka, July 7 (UNB) - A bill titled Animal Welfare Bill 2019 was passed in Parliament on Sunday, aiming to stop cruelty towards animals and defining the duties of their owners.
Chevron launches phase-II of Jibika project
Dhaka, July 7 (UNB) - Chevron Bangladesh in collaboration with Brac has launched the phase-II of Jibika project.