The Council of Advisers yesterday approved the Private University Ordinance-2008 with a provision allowing foreign university campus.

According to the new ordinance, any individual or institution will be able to set up campus or conduct course in the name of any foreign university or institution with prior permission of the government.

It was decided at a meeting of the Council of Advisers with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

University Grants Commission (UGC) in its draft recommended against foreign university campus. UGC banned 56 foreign university campuses in the capital and four other cities after allegations against them of selling certificates of different degrees without imparting quality education.

UNB adds: The council also approved the Policy 2008 for Increased Private

Participation in Power Sector for augmentation of electricity production in the country by private entrepreneurs on their own or in joint venture with government.

It also approved a proposal withdrawing the draft Ombudsman (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 as a new parliament is coming up soon and the present interim government is almost at the end of its tenure.

Furthermore, the meeting approved Bangladesh Economic Zones Ordinance 2008 aimed at “enhancing industrialisation and employment generation in the country”.

It also approved some additions and amendments to the BEPZA Act 1980.

The council sent back the Voters' List (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 back for further examination.

CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim briefed newsmen about the outcome of the meeting.

The private universities will have to operate on its own campus to be specified in the certificate provided by the government.

“A private university cannot run its activities at any place other than on campus mentioned in the certificate,” it is stated in the draft law meant for streamlining a mushroom growth of private universities and their off-campus offshoots.

However, a government certificate holding private university can apply for one or more outer-campuses in different places in the country. And under government permission, as per rules and regulations, the private university can operate one or more outer-campuses.

Under the new ordinance no person can set up campus after the name of any foreign university or institution or cannot conduct any programme or course and cannot admit students.

The private university can also operate distance- education programme with prior permission from the government.

Members of the Council of Advisers attended the meeting at the CA's office. Cabinet secretary, secretary of CA's office, CA's press secretary and secretaries of ministries concerned were also present.