Law minister replaces Ashraf as in-charge

Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam has been relieved as the in-charge of the defence ministry-related business in parliament.

He was replaced by Law Minister Anisul Huq, according to a handout issued by Parliament Secretariat last night. It, however, did not mention any reason for the change.

Ashraf was supposed to place two bills styled Defence Services (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Defence Services (Supreme Command) Bill 2016 before the House last night.

Although his name was mentioned in the printed copy of the day's proceedings, the law minister placed the bills in the Jatiya Sangsad. Ashraf, also the general secretary of the Awami League, was not present in the House at that time.

Soon after the placement of the bills, the handout was distributed among journalists.

Ashraf had been the in-charge of the parliamentary body since the formation of the 10th parliament in 2014.

Ashraf was relieved as the LGRD minister last year and given the charge of the public administration ministry.

BILL PASSED

Parliament last night passed the Defence Services (Amendment) Bill 2016, aimed at making the three services time-befitting.

The JS passed the bill by a voice vote, with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal placed the Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in parliament, aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in public procurement, works and services.

The bill proposed raising the ceiling of public procurement to Tk 3 crore from Tk 2 crore under the “limited tender method”.

REPORTS ON BILLS PLACED

Reports on four bills seeking increases in remunerations and privileges of the president, prime minister, ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers, Speaker and deputy speaker were placed in JS last night.

Suranjit Sengupta, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law Ministry, placed the reports in the House.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, in charge of the Cabinet Division in parliament, had placed the bills in the House on January 25.