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Cabinet approves draft digital commerce policy

Clears draft of 'Mental Health Bill 2018'


July 17, 2018 00:00:00


The Cabinet approved on Monday the draft of the 'National Digital Commerce Policy 2018' aiming to ensure safe digital transactions removing mistrust of buyers and purchasers in digital commerce, reports UNB.

The approval was given at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

"The government has taken an initiative to formulate the policy for the development of industries, growing export and creating more jobs in the ICT sector," said Secretary (Coordination and Reform) of the Cabinet Division NM Ziaul Alam while briefing reporters after the meeting.

As per the policy, a cell will be formed under the commerce ministry for proper implementation of the activities of digital commerce and protection of consumer rights.

Ziaul Alam said the policy focuses on ensuring safe digital transactions through the use of information and communication technology (ICT), identifying piracy and hacking and checking those, removing fear from purchasers and sellers and enhancing their confidence in the digital commerce.

He said the scope for ICT-based commerce has opened due to the rise of internet, social networking sites, mobile apps and other digital communication means throughout the world.

The cabinet also approved the draft of a new law bringing harsher punishment to any medical practitioner found to have intentionally given a patient a false certificate of mental health.

A draft of the 'Mental Health Act 2018' was passed at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.

"The government has updated the law in an effort to protect the dignity of citizens with mental health, provide them with healthcare, ensure their right to property and rehabilitate them."

The law has 31 sections and will oversee the direction, development, expansion, regulation and coordination of mental health related issues and duties entrusted to the government.

"It has been recommended that a committee will monitor mental health review to provide long-term treatment for patients."

Mr Alam said the draft also discussed the establishment of private and public mental health hospitals, their operation and the provision of respectful care.

"Any mental health professional intentionally providing a false certificate of mental health will be fined Tk 0.3 million, receive a one-year prison sentence, or both," he said.

"If the guardian of a person with mental health issues is negligent in their care or the handling of their assets, or ignores an order regarding them from the court, they may be fined up to Tk 0.5 million, three years in prison, or both."

Any individual found to be violating any other section of the law may be fined Tk 0.1 million, sentenced to six months in prison or both.

The cabinet had previously approved a draft of the 'Mental Health Act' on January 03, which had included the formation of a Department of Mental Health.

Any individual or company operating a mental health hospital without a licence would be fined Tk 0.5 million, be sentenced to three years in prison, or both. The latest draft sets a new maximum fine of Tk 2.0 million and a maximum prison sentence of five years in prison.

Any individual manipulating a mentally ill person into committing a crime will be fined Tk 0.5 million, be sentenced to two years in prison, or both.


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