Cabinet approves draft of National Biotech Policy
Thursday, 1 November 2012
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft of the 'National Biotechnology Policy, 2012' aimed at eradicating poverty through increasing productivity in agriculture and industrial sectors, reports UNB.
The approval came at a meeting of the Cabinet held at the Prime Minister's Office with Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said national and international perspectives have been reflected in the policy as biotechnology is one of the very important issues these days.
He said the policy had been finalised in consultation with different stakeholders and National Taskforce and National Executive Committee on Biotechnology. "It could be used effectively in curing diseases, ensuring food security, improving the status of health and nutrition and protecting environment," the Cabinet Secretary said.
The priority areas of the policy are agriculture, health care, nutrition, afforestation, animal husbandry, preservation of fish and livestock and improvement of the standard of goods and services.
Besides, human resources and infrastructure development, research and development and optimum utilisation of capability have been incorporated in the policy.
Under the policy, there will be three committees-National Taskforce headed by the PM, Executive Committee led by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and a Technical Committee headed by the Secretary of Science and Technology Ministry.
The Cabinet also endorsed a proposal for removing trees from the natural forests beside the Joydebpur-Mymensingh Highway through partially relaxing the Cabinet decision of 2010 that restricts tree felling from reserved and natural forests till 2015.
Under the proposal, a total of 5,696 Sal trees will be removed to implement Joydebpur-Mymensingh Road Development Project considering its importance.
Meanwhile, three reports on the visits of a Bangladesh delegation to Kenya, Rwanda, France, Switzerland, Germany and United Kingdom, led by the Jute and Textiles Minister in August, participation of Bangladesh delegation, led by the State Minister for Housing and Public Works to the sixth session of the World Urban Forum held in Naples, Italy in September and India visit of the Cultural Affairs Minister in September were placed before the Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet members, Advisers to the PM and state ministers concerned attended the meeting while concerned secretaries were present.
The approval came at a meeting of the Cabinet held at the Prime Minister's Office with Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said national and international perspectives have been reflected in the policy as biotechnology is one of the very important issues these days.
He said the policy had been finalised in consultation with different stakeholders and National Taskforce and National Executive Committee on Biotechnology. "It could be used effectively in curing diseases, ensuring food security, improving the status of health and nutrition and protecting environment," the Cabinet Secretary said.
The priority areas of the policy are agriculture, health care, nutrition, afforestation, animal husbandry, preservation of fish and livestock and improvement of the standard of goods and services.
Besides, human resources and infrastructure development, research and development and optimum utilisation of capability have been incorporated in the policy.
Under the policy, there will be three committees-National Taskforce headed by the PM, Executive Committee led by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and a Technical Committee headed by the Secretary of Science and Technology Ministry.
The Cabinet also endorsed a proposal for removing trees from the natural forests beside the Joydebpur-Mymensingh Highway through partially relaxing the Cabinet decision of 2010 that restricts tree felling from reserved and natural forests till 2015.
Under the proposal, a total of 5,696 Sal trees will be removed to implement Joydebpur-Mymensingh Road Development Project considering its importance.
Meanwhile, three reports on the visits of a Bangladesh delegation to Kenya, Rwanda, France, Switzerland, Germany and United Kingdom, led by the Jute and Textiles Minister in August, participation of Bangladesh delegation, led by the State Minister for Housing and Public Works to the sixth session of the World Urban Forum held in Naples, Italy in September and India visit of the Cultural Affairs Minister in September were placed before the Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet members, Advisers to the PM and state ministers concerned attended the meeting while concerned secretaries were present.