Jail terms, fines increased for felling trees illegally
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
The cabinet Monday approved The Forest (Amendment) Act, 2010 increasing jail terms from six months to three years and fines from Tk 2000 to Tk 50,000 for felling trees illegally and other forests related offences, reports BSS.
Besides, the cabinet approved a proposal put forward by the ministry of Forest and Environment for selecting "Mango Tree" as National Tree of the country.
After a threadbare discussion on national trees in different countries, the cabinet approved "Mango Tree" as the national tree, the press secretary said.
The approval was given at a regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at the Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad said that the cabinet approved the draft of the act to protect the country's forest resources for national development.
In the meeting, the Prime Minister renewed her call to all concerned to protect the country's forest resources for the sake of maintaining ecological balance as well as environment.
Quoting the Prime Minister, Azad said she also emphasised on bringing amendments to the act for protecting the rights of indigenous people living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
The meeting also approved a draft of Legal Practitioner's and Bar Council (Amendment) Act-2010 bringing amendments to the article-11 of the council that will pave the way for incorporating three members of Supreme Court Bar Association in the enrollment committee of the council.
Apart from this, the meeting was apprised of the reports on the 4th meeting of the Finance Ministers and Finance Secretaries of SAARC Countries held in August this year in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu.
The cabinet was also apprised of the reports on the India visit of Bangladesh delegation led by Commerce Minister in October and participation of Bangladesh delegation in the "Asia-Pacific Food Security Investment Forum" held in Manila in July this year.
Cabinet members, advisers to the Prime Ministers, state ministers concerned attended the meeting. Cabinet secretary, press secretary and secretaries concerned were present.
Besides, the cabinet approved a proposal put forward by the ministry of Forest and Environment for selecting "Mango Tree" as National Tree of the country.
After a threadbare discussion on national trees in different countries, the cabinet approved "Mango Tree" as the national tree, the press secretary said.
The approval was given at a regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at the Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad said that the cabinet approved the draft of the act to protect the country's forest resources for national development.
In the meeting, the Prime Minister renewed her call to all concerned to protect the country's forest resources for the sake of maintaining ecological balance as well as environment.
Quoting the Prime Minister, Azad said she also emphasised on bringing amendments to the act for protecting the rights of indigenous people living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
The meeting also approved a draft of Legal Practitioner's and Bar Council (Amendment) Act-2010 bringing amendments to the article-11 of the council that will pave the way for incorporating three members of Supreme Court Bar Association in the enrollment committee of the council.
Apart from this, the meeting was apprised of the reports on the 4th meeting of the Finance Ministers and Finance Secretaries of SAARC Countries held in August this year in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu.
The cabinet was also apprised of the reports on the India visit of Bangladesh delegation led by Commerce Minister in October and participation of Bangladesh delegation in the "Asia-Pacific Food Security Investment Forum" held in Manila in July this year.
Cabinet members, advisers to the Prime Ministers, state ministers concerned attended the meeting. Cabinet secretary, press secretary and secretaries concerned were present.