Nat'l Defence Policy okayed
Armed forces will be in command of all other forces during war, crisis
All paramilitary and auxiliary forces will come under the operational command of armed forces in times of war or crisis, said Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam citing a draft of the National Defence Policy-2018.
The cabinet yesterday approved the draft in principle.
The draft is based on the current defence policy formulated by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1974.
It was approved at a cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at her office, Shafiul told reporters at the secretariat.
"The policy was prepared with a vision of building people-oriented, modern and professionally competent armed forces to protect the country's independence and sovereignty and ensure public welfare," he said.
The draft policy defines the military's relations with civilians and the media, he said.
It also defines national goals, objectives, national interests, country's core defence principles and outlines the armed forces' capacity and issues relating to wartime deployment and secondary tasks.
The cabinet also approved a draft of the Fertiliser (management) (amendment) Act, 2018 that recommends tough punitive actions against marketers of adulterated fertiliser.
It proposed a jail sentence of two years or a fine of Tk 5 lakh or both for selling adulterated fertiliser. The current Fertilizer Act 2006 carries a jail sentence of six months and a fine of Tk 30,000 for the offence.
The cabinet also approved the drafts of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Act, 2018 and Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Act, 2018 and endorsed a shipping ministry proposal to declare the Capital and Maintenance Dredging of the Rabonabad Channel of Paira Port as a National Priority Project (NPP).
The draft of an agreement between Bangladesh and India for cooperation in Rooppur nuclear power plant was also approved.
The cabinet unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound shock at the death of 51 people, including 26 Bangladeshis, in the US-Bangla Plane crash on March 12.
A condolence motion expressing deep shock at the death of noted freedom fighter and sculptor Ferdousi Priyabhashini was also adopted.
BSS reports: The cabinet thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her dynamic leadership in making Bangladesh eligible for the UN “developing country” status and congratulated her as a Singapore based internationally reputed research organisation 'Statistic International' ranked her as the second best prime minister of the world.
Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam said cabinet observed that this achievement of Bangladesh was possible only for the dynamic, prudent and bold leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He added that the prime minister was ranked as the second best for her competent leadership, statesmanship, humanity, decision-making and their implementation at the international level as well as being in the limelight in international media throughout 2017.
The research firm said the prime minister not only gave shelter to Rohingyas but also carried out a diplomatic fight to establish their rights in their homeland and successfully engaged the United Nations and important countries of the world in the issue, the cabinet secretary added.