The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The government assigned the Advisory Council Committee on Administrative Reforms and Good Governance to resolve the crisis over the 27th BCS examination that recently took a turn for the worse.

A meeting of the council of advisers of the caretaker government today (Sunday) with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair also approved for signing the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

In another major step, the meeting approved the Citizenship (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 to interpolate the word 'mother' next to the existing word 'father' in section 5 of the number-2 law of the Citizenship Act 1951.

About the BCS problem, the Council of Advisers directed the Advisory Council Committee on Administrative Reforms and Good Governance to review the complications created over the 27th BCS examination and recommend appropriate solution to the Advisory Council "as soon as possible".

Taking stock of the latest situation arising out of the contentious BCS examination, the council decided that it "should be handled properly".

As a result of amending the citizenship law, if father or mother of a child is Bangladeshi during the baby's birth, the child will get the citizenship of Bangladesh.

Under the existing law, if husband of a Bangladeshi woman is a foreigner, their child cannot be a citizen of Bangladesh. Then, the child will have to follow the legal procedure for getting citizenship.

"The amendment has been made to the Citizenship Act 1951 to remove procedural difficulty and gender disparity," says the statement on the background of necessity of bringing amendment to the existing Act.

To achieve the goal of the BIMSTEC convention, the member-states of the sub-regional grouping, subject to the domestic rules and regulations and under the framework of convention, should provide "widest possible measures and mutual assistance in prevention, investigation, prosecution and suppression" of such crimes.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said the meeting also approved in principle Dhaka Shishu Hospital Ordinance 2008 subject to further examination by the Law and Health Ministries.

After vetting, it will again be placed before the council of advisers in its meeting "as soon as possible".

At the meeting the Cabinet Division placed annual report of activities of different ministries and divisions for the fiscal 2007-08. The meeting directed the ministries to publish their respective annual report individually.

Moreover, the advisory council was apprised by Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim of enthusiastic observance of the first National Agriculture Day, saying that much enthusiasm was found among farmers across the country.

CA's Special Assistant for Civil Aviation Ministry apprised the meeting of the latest position of hajj flights, saying that "hajj-flight operations are going on smoothly".

Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhry apprised the council of celebration of completion of 400 years of Dhaka through programes from 2008 to 2010. The celebrations will be formally inaugurated on November 28.

Members of the Advisory Council attended the meeting at the CA's office. Cabinet Secretary, CA's Press Secretary and Secretaries concerned were present at the meeting.