The cabinet approved on Monday the draft Handicrafts and Artistic Work Policy-2015 aiming to give the sector a boost that will help generate new jobs and reduce poverty.
The approval was given at the regular weekly cabinet meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
"The Handicrafts and Artistic work Policy has been prepared in line with the Industrial Policy-2010 that will help create employment and reduce poverty," Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting.
A National Coordination Council of the Handicrafts and Artistic Work Policy-2015 headed by the industries minister will be formed, he said, adding that the chairman of BSCIC will be the chief of the National Council for Implementation of the Policy.
The government will provide all sorts of assistance to the people involved with the sector, Mr Bhuiyan said.
The council of ministers also approved optional holidays on Chaitra 29 and Baishakh 2 for the indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts so that they can celebrate their 'Baishabi' festival in a befitting manner.
Besides, it discussed the implementation of the decisions taken earlier. A total of 66 decisions were taken from January to March 2015. And of them, 33 were implemented.
During the same period of the corresponding year, a total of 37 decisions were taken and 19 of them implemented.
Meanwhile, the PM directed the district officials to gear up the execution of development programmes to alleviate poverty, fight terrorism and militancy and turn the country into a middle-income one by 2021.
She, through a videoconference, also asked the District Development Committees of Natore, Chaipainawabganj, Brahmanbaria and Feni to gear up the government's development activities. The cabinet secretary conducted the videoconference.
Referring to political turmoil that continued for last three months, the premier said the country had passed a very bad time. She thanked the law enforcement agencies and administrative officials for their all-out cooperation in tackling the situation.
The PM asked the law enforcement agencies to find out those involved in violence, vandalism and killings of innocent people during hartal and blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
"They (arsonists) must face trial. This is urgently needed for ensuring the security of public life and property," she said.
Accusing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia of carrying out destructive activities for about 92 days, Hasina said the BNP chairperson would never think of toppling the government in future as she (Khaleda) would not get that strength to unseat the government.
"The BNP leader had started arson after declaring to resist the January 5 election and destroyed the wealth of the country and people. People were burnt to death alive. What she gained? My question is there," she was quoted by a meeting source as saying.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
