The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Council of Advisers of the caretaker government Sunday approved reformulation of the Government Attorney Service Ordinance 2008 to introduce attorney services in the district-level public-prosecution system.

A meeting of the council of advisers with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair gave the approval to the Reformulated Attorney Service Ordinance deducting the Supreme Court attorney service part of the Government Attorney Service Ordinance 2008 and repealing the existing Attorney Service Ordinance 2008.

The Supreme Court lawyers have raised objections to the Supreme Court chapter of attorney service of the Government Attorney Service Ordinance 2008 and filed writs against the ordinance.

At the district level, district attorney services would be constituted comprising district attorney, additional attorney, joint attorney and assistant attorney.

The meeting also approved a proposal extending the period of suspension on implementation of unitrack curriculum system for class IX and X by one year to December 31, 2009.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said the meeting also finally approved the Real Estate Development and Management Ordinance 2008 for bringing fair management in real-estate business and protecting the interest of buyers and sellers.

Under the ordinance the offenses would be treated as "non-bailable and cognizable". Provision for going for amicable settlement between aggrieved person and developer before going to court is there in the new provisional law.

Purchase and sale management of flats and plots built under government-private joint venture have been included in the Ordinance.

There are provisions of punishments for various offenses in the ordinance.

If any non-registered real- estate company starts developing works and gives advertisement in mass media, maximum two years imprisonment or maximum Tk 10 lakh fines or both would be given.

If any developer starts works without permission, the punishment is maximum 2 years jail or maximum Tk 10 lakh fines or both.

The meeting also approved in principle Bangladesh Telecommunications (Amendment) Ordinance 2008.

Punishment for various offenses in the draft ordinance has been kept, ranging from minimum 2 years imprisonment or Tk 2 crore fines and maximum seven years jail or Tk 500 crore fines.

The meeting asked for placing the draft in the council's meeting within next two weeks after examining jointly by the Law and Post and Telecommunications Ministries.

Members of the advisory council attended the meeting at the CA's office. Cabinet Secretary, CA's Press Secretary and secretaries of concerned Ministries were also present.