The Cabinet yesterday approved the draft of the ‘Dowry Prohibition Act 2017’, “National Hajj and Umrah Policy2017”, “Hajj Package 2017”, ‘The Bangladesh Ship Recycling Law,2017’ and ‘The Integrated Small-Scale Irrigation Policy, 2017’ during its weekly meeting.

The approval was given in the weekly meeting of the cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday released a commemorative postage stamp, a first day cover and a data card on the occasion of the International Customs Day 2017 at the beginning of the weekly regular cabinet meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday morning.

Bangladesh Post Office issued the commemorative stamp of Taka 10, the first day cover of Tk 10 and the data card of Tk 5. The sale of the stamp, first day cover and data card started from the Philatelic Bureau of Dhaka GPO yesterday, while those would be available from other GPOs and head post offices across the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that all future elections in the country will be free and fair. She was speaking yesterday evening at the beginning of the joint meeting of the Awami League Executive Assembly and the Advisory Council at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s residence Ganabhaban which was convened to discuss EC search committee requests to propose names to form the next election commission. Speaking at the meeting, she said no one would be able to make a mockery of the electoral rights of the people of Bangladesh.

In the meeting the ruling Awami League yesterday decided to send names for the next chief election commissioner and other election commissioners to the search committee. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken various measures over the last eight years to develop the country at a faster pace.

Prime Minister said this when the outgoing Indonesian Ambassador Iwan Wirnata Atmadja paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her parliament office yesterday evening. The Prime Minister appreciated the Indonesian ambassador’s efforts to boost bilateral trade and commerce between the two countries.

She said the country could import coal from Indonesia alongside other countries to run coal-fired power plants. The outgoing Indonesian Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for extending cooperation in discharging his duties during his tenure in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board will bring 146 Upazilas under 100 per cent electrification activities within the current 2016-17 fiscal year, said BREB. The board is also working to bring all 460 Upazilas under 100 per cent electrification activities to keep up with a directive given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In the current fiscal year the board is planning to construct 40 thousand km power lines and 84 electricity sub-centres. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday said the entire government would come under e-filing system by June this year which will ensure good governance.

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the electronic-filing (e-filing) system at the Press Information Department (PID).

He also said that although this was the formal inauguration of e-filing at the PID but the process had started on a trial basis, from last year (2016). Inu assured the newsmen that e-filing and ultimately e-governance would be introduced to bring dynamism into the administration and take government services to the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Information Secretary Mortuza Ahmed said that the ministry would complete the e-filing system by February.

Principal Information Officer A K M Shameem Chowdhuri chaired the meeting which was also addressed by representatives from the Access to Information (A2I) and other senior officers of the PID.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has said Bangladesh and India maintain close and cordial relation on various bilateral fields and issues. The two countries have already resolved some important pending issues including enclave problems successfully.

He added while addressing a reception ceremony in Rajshahi in honour of Harsh Vardhan Shringla, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh. The government has extended Dhaka International Trade Fair 2017 by four days in response to the request made by the exhibitors from home and abroad.

Vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau Mafruha Sultana said the authority has made decision to extend the DITF 2017 by four more days at a meeting at EPB office.

– Press Wing. Bangladesh High Commission London