The last Cabinet meeting of the Sheikh Hasina-led Grand Alliance government was held on Monday (Dec 3), when the prime minister informally bid farewell to her colleagues
Following discussions on the issues in the day’s agenda, Hasina thanked Cabinet members for their cooperation in the last five years, several ministers said on condition of anonymity.
“This is the last meeting of this Cabinet. All of you will head to your constituencies for the election. We may not meet again,” they quoted the prime minister saying.
“The people know well who it will vote for in the election. A new parliament will be formed as well as a new cabinet and who knows who will be there. Stay well and thank you,” she told Cabinet colleagues.
The 11th parliamentary election is slated for Dec 30. The Election Commission has already cleared 2,279 candidates out of the 3,056 for the election. The official campaigning period starts after Dec 9, the deadline to withdraw nominations, when polls symbols will be allotted to candidates.
On Monday, the Cabinet approved the draft of ‘the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University Bill, 2018’.
Bangladesh Air Force will operate the university in capital Dhaka, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told the media at the Secretariat after the meeting.
As per the proposed law, Bangladesh Air Force Academy, Flying Instructor School, Flight Safety Institute, Command and Staff Training Institute, Aeronautical Institute and Officers Training Institute will be affiliated with the university, the he said.
The drafts of Bangladesh Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Labour Bill-2018, Insurance Corporation Bill-2018, International Mother Language Institute (Amendment) Bill-2018 and Chattogram Hill Tracts (Land Acquisition, Amendment) Regulation-1958 also received the green light.
Meanwhile, a five-member Cabinet committee was formed at the meeting to finalise the Ninth Wage Board award for journalists.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will head the committed while Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu are its members, according to Cabinet Secretary Alam.
Following the recommendations of the cabinet committee, gazette notification will be published on Jan 28 in this regard, he added.
Responding to a query, he said the wage board constituted by the government earlier recommended an 80 percent hike in basic wages of journalists under the top three grades while 85 percent for those under the bottom three grades.
Besides, it suggested 20 percent Bangla New Year allowance for the journalists, he said, adding that separate laws were also recommended for electronic, online and radio media.