The parliamentary (Jatiya Sangsad) standing committee on the planning ministry recommended Thursday strengthening of local government in the 7th Five-Year Plan to lessen pressure on the central administration.
Besides, the committee also suggested inclusion of 'visionary planning' in the proposed 7th Plan by examining prospects and setting priorities before undertaking any project.
The Planning Commission estimated the gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the 7th Five-Year Plan at an average 7.2 per cent and in the last year 8.0 per cent.
The Commission informed this while discussing a report on macroeconomic situation reflected in the 7th Five-Year Plan.
The 11th meeting of the committee was held Thursday at the parliament building with committee chairman Abul Kalam Azad in the chair.
The committee also suggested the Planning Commission to undertake new projects for strengthening and making effective Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) with a view to removing trade obstacles with various countries including neighbouring India.
Other committee members who attended the meeting were Shawkat Ali, Tajul Islam, Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and Nilufar Zafrullah.
In another meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the commerce ministry, it was recommended to construct cold storages on the unutilised lands of the civil aviation and tourism ministry.
It also suggested the ministry to create the posts of economic minister in the Bangladesh missions in China, Japan and India.
The committee made the recommendations at its 10th meeting at the parliament building with committee chairman Tajul Islam Chowdhury in the chair.
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed, Motahar Hossain, Nurul Majid Mahmud, Waresat Hossain Belal, Sanwar Hossain, Manjurul Islam Liton and Laila Arjuman Banu were present in the meeting, among others.
Meanwhile, in a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the shipping ministry, it was recommended to submit specific proposals on steps to prevent mishaps on waterways by the department of shipping (DOS) in the next meeting.
The committee also suggested the ministry to set up land port at Ramgarh of Khagrachhari on priority basis and submit a detailed report on the existing land ports in north and south including their names, present situation, problems and wayouts in the next meeting.
The recommendations came at the 11th meeting of the committee at the parliament building with committee chairman Maj (retd) Rafiqul Islam, Bir Uttam in the chair.
The committee also recommended the ministry to take necessary steps to set up a land-based workshop at Aricha and two oil tankers there to supply fuel to keep shipping smooth during special situations.
Other committee members who attended the meeting included shipping minister Shajahan Khan, Abdul Hye, Habibur Rahman, M Abdul Latif and Anwarul Azim.
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