The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The government has decided, in principle, to repeal the Gram Sarkar Act-2003, approving a new ordinance "Gram Sarkar (Repeal) Ordinance-2008.

The decision was taken at a regular meeting of the council of advisers held Sunday afternoon with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair at his office here.

Besides, the council approved the "Policy for Construction of Flats on Government Land on Partnership Basis".

Under the policy, multi-storied buildings will be constructed jointly by the private entrepreneurs on abandoned government land and demolishing abandoned government dilapidated houses for distributing those among the government servants on the hire purchase basis.

Developers will be selected through open tender for the construction and all procedures of the National Housing Rules will be followed, said Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim.

"Accommodation problems of the government servants would be solved to a great extent if the policy is implemented," he said while briefing newsmen at his office after the meeting.

The press secretary said the council also decided to hold a meeting of the council of advisers in Barisal on March 5 to closely observe and review the post-cyclone Sidr rehabilitation programmes in the south-western belt of the country.

This will be the second meeting of the council of advisers outside Dhaka after Rangpur.

The council also gave directives to develop transport infrastructures in Dhaka city for the next 20 years when a concept paper on "Strategic Transport Plan (STP) was presented at the meeting by a group of experts.

Advisers of the caretaker government and special assistants to the Chief Adviser attended the meeting. Cabinet secretary and secretaries concerned were present.