Local Government Law 2015 gets cabinet nod

The cabinet on Monday gave the final approval to the draft of "The Local Government (Pourasabha) (Amendment) Law, 2015" by bringing a slight change in the ordinance promulgated earlier to this end.

The approval came at the regular weekly cabinet meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said an amendment to Section 2 of the 2009 has been brought by naming 55 (Ka). The word "political party" has been replaced in 55 (Ka), he said.

The cabinet secretary also said the word "registered political party" has been incorporated in the article 2 of the Representation of People`s Order 1972.

Besides, he said, a new sub-section " 61 (Ka)" has been added to the Section 61. It has been mentioned in 61 (Ka) that an independent candidate is such a candidate who is not nominated by a political party.

The cabinet secretary said these two amendments have been brought in the definition of "The Local Government (Pourasabha) (Amendment) Law, 2015", while in the main law, a proposal for replacing section 20 (Ka) (participation in the election) freshly after Section 20 has been made.

According to Section 19, he said, for contesting the poura election in the posts of mayor or councilor, the candidates will have to be nominated by any political party or they will have to be independent candidate.

Shafiul Alam also said a new sub section "Ka" of "Ka" in Section 21 has been added by incorporating the following words: "any matter for participating in the election as a candidate nominated by any political party or independent candidate".

Replying to a question, the cabinet secretary said "The Local Government (Pourasabha) (Amendment) Law, 2015" has been framed in the same form of the ordinance promulgated earlier in this regard.

The cabinet secretary said the cabinet also endorsed in principle the draft of "The Insurance Corporation Law,2015" by bringing a slight change in the law.

The draft law has earlier mentioned that the corporation would be run commercially, but the cabinet asked for incorporating the word "public interest" in the law, the cabinet secretary said.

Shafiul Alam said a decision has been given to translate the words - "with regard to the public purpose"- in Bangla which were incorporated in the 1973 main law.

The cabinet secretary said today`s third agenda - the approval for "The Draft of the New Memorandum of Understating framed for sending Bangladesh workers to Malaysia in G2G Plus Process" was withdrawn as the issue of the MoU is yet to be finalized with Malaysia.

Shafiul Alam said the cabinet was apprised of the participation of the environment and forest minister in the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF) held in Tokyo, Japan on October 7-8 and visit of a Bangladesh delegation led by state minister for ICT division to Saudi Arabia on October 7-10.

Ministers and state ministers concerned attended the meeting, while secretaries concerned were present.