Cabinet approves no quota in public services

The cabinet division in principle yesterday approved that there will be no quota system in public services for 8th grade and above.

According to the existing circular, there is no quota system for class-I and class-II jobs in the civil services.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the media at the Secretariat after the meeting was held at Prime Minister’s Office. PM Sheikh Hasina chaired the weekly cabinet meeting.

The cabinet division gave the final approval to clear the government’s circular published earlier in this regard, the cabinet secretary said at the press conference.

He said Bangladesh Public Service Commission goes for direct recruitment in some posts for the 8th grade and above, except 9th, 10th and 13th grades.

But according to the previous circular, it was not made clear what will happen for the 8th grade and above and thus the circular needed to be amended, he said.

In February last year, a large number of students of public universities and jobseekers demonstrated, demanding reforms to the quota system in public services.

Later, the protest intensified in April when students across the country took to the streets and blocked key points in the capital and roads and highways elsewhere.

In the wake of mass protests, the prime minister on April 11 in the same year, announced in parliament that the quota system would be scrapped.

TK 1.17CR COMPENSATION FOR AIR CRASH CASUALTY

Yesterday, the cabinet also gave final approval to a draft law on air transportation, proposing an enhanced compensation of Tk 1.17 crore for every casualty in any air crash, while the previous amount was Tk 20,37,600, reports BSS.

“The weekly cabinet meeting gave its final nod to The Air Transport (The Montreal Convention, 1999) Act, 2020,” said the cabinet secretary.

He said the amount was meant for individual victims of any air crash, dead or wounded, while the law was drafted in line with the Montreal Convention, which Bangladesh endorsed the same year.

Officials familiar with the drafting process said the victims of a recent crash of an aircraft belonging to a Bangladeshi private airlines got Tk 20,37,600, which appeared minimal, prompting authorities to re-fix the amount under the proposed law.

The cabinet secretary said the law also proposed payment of US $5,734 to every passenger by every flight carrier company for delays, while the amount previously was $20.

He said the proposed law would also obligate flight carriers to compensate for missing or damaged luggage and cargo.

Anwarul said the proposed amount is $1,381 and $24 respectively for per kg of damaged or lost baggage and cargo while the amounts were $20 for both the cases.

He said the law will be applicable for domestic and international air transportation but a new rule would be required to enforce it for air carriers in local routes.

The top government bureaucrat said the cabinet also approved in principle draft of “The Bangladesh Travel Agencies (Registration and Control) (Amendment), Act, 2020, for smoothening the businesses.

The proposed law would allow one travel agent to transfer his or her ownership under some specific conditions, open branch offices and renew licenses even after expiry of deadlines.

Iodised Salt Act, 2020 and Chattogram Port Authority Act, 2020 were the two other proposed laws to get the cabinet nod. Anwarul, however, detailed only the objective of the salt law saying, it aimed to ensure proportionate mixture of iodine in salts.    announced in parliament that the quota system would be scrapped.

TK 1.17CR COMPENSATION FOR AIR CRASH CASUALTIES

Yesterday, the cabinet also gave final approval to a draft law on air transportation, proposing an enhanced compensation of Tk 1.17 crore for every casualty in any air crash, while the previous amount was Tk 20,37,600, reports BSS.

“The weekly cabinet meeting gave its final nod to The Air Transport (The Montreal Convention, 1999) Act, 2020,” said the cabinet secretary.

He said the amount was meant for individual victims of any air crash, dead or wounded; the law was drafted in line with the 1999 Montreal Convention, which Bangladesh endorsed the same year.

Officials familiar with the drafting process said victims of a recent crash of an aircraft belonging to a Bangladeshi private airlines got Tk 20,37,600, which appeared minimal, prompting authorities to reassess the amount under the proposed law.

The cabinet secretary said the law also proposed payment of US $5,734 to every passenger by every flight carrier for delays, while the amount previously was $20.

He said the proposed law would also obligate flight carriers to compensate for missing or damaged luggage and cargo.

Anwarul said the proposed amount is $1,381 and $24 respectively for per kg of damaged or lost baggage and cargo; the compensation were $20 for both the cases previously.

The top bureaucrat said the cabinet also approved in principle draft of “The Bangladesh Travel Agencies (Registration and Control) (Amendment), Act, 2020, aimed at making their operations smooth.

Iodised Salt Act, 2020 and Chattogram Port Authority Act, 2020 were the two other proposed laws to get the cabinet nod.