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Download PDF The council of advisers to the caretaker government yesterday sent back the Independent Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Ordinance-2007 to the law ministry for further scrutiny for ensuring full independence of the commission.
“The law ministry will place the ordinance to the council as soon as possible after review,” Syed Fahim Munaim, press secretary to the chief adviser (CA), told reporters at a news briefing in the CA’s office following a meeting of the council.
He also said it is yet to be finalized with which government authority the commission will be affiliated.
The council of advisers approved the EC’s proposal to free the commission from the Prime Minister’s Office in principle on June 23, and asked the law ministry to draft an ordinance for setting up an independent secretariat for the commission.
The law ministry yesterday placed the ordinance before the council but the council sent it back for further scrutiny, as the government wants the Election Commission to be completely independent.
The council yesterday also approved the Livestock and Fish Feed Ordinance-2007 in principle, but sent it back to the ministry for further vetting.
Fahim Munaim said according to the proposed ordinance none will be allowed to market livestock and fish feed without approval from the testing authorities concerned of the government, and there must be manufacturing and expiry dates on the packets.
The ordinance also bans adding chemicals to the feed.
The council also approved the Money Loan Court (Amendment) Ordinance yesterday.
Replying to a question Fahim said distribution of vulnerable group feeding (VGF) cards began in Barguna, Pirojpur, Bhola, Jhalakathi, Shariatpur, Khulna and in Madaripur on Saturday.
Today the cards will be distributed in Bagerhat and Gopalganj while those will be distributed in Shathkhira and Patuakhali from tomorrow, he said adding that 10 to 12 lakh metric tons of rice have already been imported to meet the shortage of 19 lakh metric tons.
In reply to another question, Fahim said the government had talked to non-government organisations (NGOs) so that they postpone collecting loan repayment instalments in Sidr battered areas, prompting some of them to postpone it already.
“The government will talk to the NGOs again regarding the matter and follow up on the matter,” he said.
He also said the government will sit with international donors today and discuss the matter of long-term infrastructure rehabilitation in the cyclone battered areas.
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