Desk Report
Published: 19 May 2022, 08:14 pm
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina || Photo: BSS
The cabinet today directed the
ministries of finance and commerce along with Bangladesh Bank (BB) to prepare a
report within three days on the present situation of the prices of essentials
for the next course of action to tackle the challenges to emerge as the outcome
of Russia-Ukraine war and COVID-19 pandemic.
"Finance Ministry, Commerce
Ministry and Bangladesh Bank will give a comprehensive picture within two-three
days," said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing the
reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat after a meeting of the cabinet.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the
cabinet meeting that took place at the Prime Minister's Office.
The cabinet secretary said the commerce
minister, finance minister and secretaries of both ministries have been asked
to take comprehensive steps and place a report before all.
"Particularly, they will discuss on
how to handle the matter, where to put restrictions and where to relax
restrictions. They will give their report," he added.
He also mentioned that the matter of
dollar price will also be in that comprehensive report.
Khandker Anwarul Islam said the cabinet
approved Haat and Bazar (establish and management) Act, 2022 in principle to
replace an Ordinance of 1959 regarding the matter to make it time befitting.
He said there are 26 articles in the
proposed law. As per the law none can set up any haat and bazar (market)
without taking prior permission from the government.
If any haat or bazar is set up in any
area, the government will take that land as Khas land, he said.
The district administration and
government will manage the lands of haat or bazar and no land can be
transferred permanently.
As per the proposed law, if anyone or a
group of people illegally occupy Khas land of any haat and bazar and construct
any establishment then every person will be fined not more than Taka 5 lakh or
jailed for one year or both.
The cabinet secretary said Land
Development Tax Act, 2022 was also approved in principle by the cabinet which
will replace Land Development Tax Ordinance 1976.
As per the law land development tax upto
25 bighas of agricultural land will be free, which was done by Bangabandhu. But
if anyone owns more than 25 bighas of land then that person has to pay tax for
the whole land.
If any land owned by more than one
person in that case there will be hearing to determine the specific portion of
owners of that land and after that the land development tax will be determined.
For not paying of land development tax
more than three consecutive years, the penalty will be 6.25 percent per annum.
Personal or family owned graveyard was kept under the purview of this tax, he added.
As per the Land Development Act, 2022
which was approved in principle, which will replace an ordinance of 1984, if
any agricultural land produces export items or export oriented agricultural
industries are established on that land, then the 60 bigha ceiling for a person
will not be applicable.
As per the existing law, no person can
own more than 60 bighas of land, if anyone has that, the government will take
that extra lands.
Any violation of this law will be
punishable and the fine is up to Taka one lakh or one month of imprisonment.
Besides, National Mental Health Policy
Bangladesh 2022 draft was approved by the cabinet to give mental health side by
side the physical health more importance.
The cabinet secretary said the meeting
also discussed about the COVID-19 related matters and was apprised that World
Bank has allocated around US$ one billion loan to carry out the COVID-19
related steps in Bangladesh as the country has shown tremendous success in
tackling COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Responding to a question about the
opening of Padma Bridge, he hoped that the bridge will be opened for traffic in
the last week of June.
"We are ready to do that. We hope
that we will be able to ready the bridge for opening before the last week of
the next month," he added.
He also said highest degree of
compliance has been maintained for Padma Bridge.
Responding to another question, he said
that the prime minister several times in the past said the name of the bridge
will be Padma Bridge. "She will clear the matter any day," he said.
Regarding the toll of vehicles, he said
that usually the toll rate is fixed 1.5 times higher than the ferry toll.
The cabinet secretary also said that the
Bridge Authority has to pay back the money to the government at one percent
interest rate._BSS