Interim govt adopts 3-year export policy

Bangladesh adopts a three-year new export policy with the target of elevating annual earnings from exports to US$110 billion by 2027--around double the present receipt.
The council of advisers of the interim government in a meeting Thursday approved the National Export Policy 2024-27, and also dwelt at length on some important current issues.
The export policy incorporates some new products in the priority list, including handicrafts and vegetables, said Md Shafiqul Alam. Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, elaborating on what transpired at the council meet.
A new chapter on development of the services sector is put in the policy thrust and textile fabrics and spinning sector included in special development sector, the briefing was told.
At the briefing, the press secretary also said that the council discussed the issue of unrest in the RMG sector in detail and Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus directed the authorities concerned to go for "a lasting solution to the problems of the workers".
So it is expected that the situation will be normal soon, he added.
The Council of Advisers also approved the 'Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons between The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and The Government of the State of Qatar', placed by the home ministry.
The agreement will enable the government to take back the Bangladeshi citizens sentenced by those countries for various crimes to home so that they can pass the rest of the term of their sentences here.
The Press Secretary said that based on a media report, a high -level committee is formed to probe the allegations against the Public Administration Secretary over appointments and transfers.
This committee may include some senior journalists also, he added.
He said the present government is committed to protecting the freedom of press and open to criticism.
At the same time, the government hopes that the media would also be proactive so that the spread of "fake news can be stopped".
Replying to a question about tension having gripped the public administration, he said that he did not believe so.
"There might be one or two cases of mistakes but this does not mean that the entire administration is in a mess," he noted.
Mr Alam said that the interim government will start a second phase of its dialogue with the political parties next Saturday and BNP and some other major parties are invited to take part in the dialogue on the first day.
He also informed that out of the six reform committees, five are finalised and the rest one will also be finalised after coopting 2 or 3 members.
The council of advisers in its meeting also approved an ordinance on water supply and sanitation.
According to bdnews24.com, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has ordered the formation of a committee, which will include three advisors, to probe allegations of corruption against Public Administration Secretary Md Mokhlesur Rahman, says Advisor Sharmin Murshid.
The decision was taken at the interim cabinet meeting on Thursday, she said at a press conference at the Ministry of Social Welfare.
Asked whether there had been discussions about the allegations that Mokhlesur had accepted bribes for the appointment of deputy commissioners, she said:
"If you look at the clip that went viral on social media, regular people cannot tell how much of it is AI produced and how much of it is real. The immediate decision has been to investigate its technical integrity. The cabinet has spoken on the matter. It has to be investigated and we will, of course, investigate it."
"No irresponsibility of any kind will be accepted amongst the officers in our administration with the highest responsibilities," she said. "We must and will get this under control."
Asked what the chief advisor's comments were on the matter, Sharmin said:
"The advisor gave instructions on the matter. We will look into it by forming a committee. The chief advisor is of course concerned. Why wouldn't he be? Someone said something like this about a high-ranking official. We must investigate what the source is. We are no longer in the old analogue era. As a result, one of the difficulties is that whatever comes up on social media spreads quickly and everyone takes that as true. We must verify it."

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