Juris Desk
The fifth session of the 10th parliament has began and a couple of bills have already been placed. Some of the bills have been passed and the others have been sent to the concerned parliamentary standing committees of the JS for scrutiny. Here is a sneak peek of the bills placed in the present session:
Metro rail bill passed
The Parliament has passed the Metro Rail Bill, 2015 on January 26 to help reduce traffic jam in the capital and with a view to providing quick and modern transport service to the passengers.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader placed the bill in the House. The bill provides provisions for land acquisition, construction of metro rail, compulsory license for metro rail operation, a committee to fix fare, inspection and monitoring system, insurance coverage of metro rail and passengers, quality, punishment for crimes and other concerned issues.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Road Transport and Bridges Ministry Ekabbor Hossain placed the report of the bill in the House on January 20. Earlier on November 30, 2014, Obaidul Quader introduced the bill with provisions for construction, operation, maintenance, control and concerned issues.
Formalin control bill tabled
Formalin Control Bill, 2015 was places in the JS on January 21 with a view to regulating the use of formalin and its trade activities under a legal framework. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed placed the bill before the House.
Formalin, a chemical solution, is mostly used in scientific research. It is also used in hospital, leather and textile industry, hatchery, etc. However, some dishonest traders use formalin in food items like fruits, vegetables, fishes to increase their shelf life. These formalin dipped food items become very harmful to health. The consumption of formalin over a prolonged period can develop respiratory, digestive, cardiac problems, along with cancer.
Hence, the government felt it necessary to control importation, production, transportation, hoarding, sale, and use of formalin to save people’s health from its misuse through passing a law by placing the Formalin Control Bill, 2015.
The bill provides for life sentence and a fine of Tk2,000,000 for anyone who imports, produces or stocks the chemical without a licence. Violation conditions of licence has been made an offence punishable with a maximum seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk500,000.
Anyone transporting formalin without licences can be imprisoned for six months to two years and fined up to Tk300,000 from Tk100,000. Unauthorised possession of formalin-making equipment has been made an offence punishable with imprisonment for up to two years from six months and a fine of up to Tk200,000 from Tk50,000. The draft law proposes formation of a formalin control committee at every district and upazila.
The bill stipulates that the offences involving unauthorised import, production and stock of formalin and violation of licence conditions will be tried under Special Powers Act, 1974. According to the bill, a first class magistrates and mobile courts can try other offences under the law. The bill was sent to the concerned parliamentary standing committee for scrutiny and to send back to House within 15 working days.
Bangla language introduction (amendment) bill placed
Bangla Language Introduction (Amendment) Bill, 2014, a private member’s bill to make a mandatory law in exercising the Bangla language in all courts across the country, has been placed before the Parliament on January 22. Rustam Ali Farazi, an independent parliament member from Pirojpur-3 constituency, placed the bill.
While placing the bill, Farazi told parliament that in exercising Bangla everywhere in the courts, the Bengali Language Introduction Act, 1987 should be amended. Earlier, on April 29, 2014, a High Court (HC) bench comprising of Justice Kazi Rezaul Haq and Justice ABM Altaf Hossen ordered the authorities concerned to take all out initiatives to circulate Bangla language in all the sectors, including all offices around the country by May 15, 2014. The bill was sent to the concerned parliamentary standing committee on private member’s proposal and private bill committee for further scrutiny.
See more at:
http://www.dhakatribune.com/juris/2015/feb/05/forthcoming-laws#sthash.mR0VyVfZ.dpuf
