The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The council of advisers on Sunday approved the Public Servants (Dismissal on Conviction) (Amendment) Ordinance 2008.

It also endorsed the Supreme Judicial Commission (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 put forward by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

Besides, the council approved Bangladesh's ratification of the D-8 Agreement on Simplification of Visa Procedure for the Businessmen of the Member States.

A government spokesman said the Council of Advisers finally approved the ordinances in its regular weekly meeting held at the Chief Adviser's Office in the afternoon with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

Under the Public Servants (Dismissal on Conviction) Ordinance 1985 a public servant used to be dismissed if he or she was given more than six months imprisonment or awarded more than Tk 1,000 as fines by the court.

In the new ordinance, which took immediate effect from today, the duration of imprisonment has been extended to over one year while the amount for penalty over Tk 10,000 for the dismissal of a public servant from services.

With the approval of the Supreme Judicial Commission (Amendment) Ordinance 2008, the nine-member commission headed by the chief justice would be reconstituted. The other members of the commission will be the law minister, the attorney general, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, three senior judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court and two senior High Court judges.

Besides, the Council approved Bangladesh's ratification of the D-8 Agreement on Simplification of Visa Procedure for the Businessmen of the Member States.

The D-8 Group was formed in 1997 by eight Muslim countries-Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and Turkey.

Following the meeting, CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said with the approval of the agreement, trade and business relations among the member-countries of the bloc would be further "expedited and strengthened".

Briefing newsmen at his office, he said Bangladesh would be benefited as its export will increase among the member- states. "Travel of the businessmen of the member-countries will be easier while investment and foreign trade accelerated within these countries."

Advisers of the caretaker government and Special Assistants to the Chief Adviser attended the meeting. Cabinet Secretary, Press Secretary and secretaries concerned were present.

Supreme Judicial Businessmen of the Member States.

A government spokesman said the Council of Advisers finally approved the ordinances in its regular weekly meeting held at the Chief Adviser's Office in the afternoon with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

Under the Public Servants (Dismissal on Conviction) Ordinance 1985 a public servant used to be dismissed if he or she was given more than six months imprisonment or awarded more than Tk 1,000 as fines by the court.

In the new ordinance, which took immediate effect from today, the duration of imprisonment has been extended to over one year while the amount for penalty over Tk 10,000 for the dismissal of a public servant from services.

With the approval of the Supreme Judicial Commission (Amendment) Ordinance 2008, the nine-member commission headed by the chief justice would be reconstituted. The other members of the commission will be the law minister, the attorney general, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, three senior judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court and two senior High Court judges.

Besides, the Council approved Bangladesh's ratification of the D-8 Agreement on Simplification of Visa Procedure for the Businessmen of the Member States.

The D-8 Group was formed in 1997 by eight Muslim countries-Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and Turkey.

Following the meeting, CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said with the approval of the agreement, trade and business relations among the member-countries of the bloc would be further "expedited and strengthened".