The cabinet approved Monday the proposal for an agreement between Bangladesh and Serbia on visa exemption of the government officials and diplomats of the two countries for bilateral visits.
"The official and diplomatic passport holders of the two countries will enjoy on arrival visa for a maximum of 90 days. The visa exemption agreement would strengthen bilateral relations and boost mutual trade and investment," Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the media after a cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat on the day.
The cabinet secretary said the citizens of both the countries working in the international organisations and agencies would also enjoy the facility.
He said Bangladeshi officials and diplomatic passport holders have been enjoying visa exemption facilities in several countries.
He said any party could cancel the agreement with a prior notice.
The cabinet also approved the proposal to revise its earlier decision aimed at handing over the responsibility of the patron organisation of the textile sector to the textiles directorate under the ministry of textiles and jute.
The patron organisation means a regulatory administrative body for any special type of industry.
According to a decision of the cabinet on October 7, 1992, a foot note was included in the Industrial Policy 1991 which stated that Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) will be the patron organisation of industries in the small and cottage industry sector.
The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) is the patron organisation for the industries in Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and the Board of Investment (BoI) for other industries.
"The cabinet decided to hand over the responsibility of the patron organisation of the textile sector to the textiles directorate under the ministry of jute and textiles," he said.
The cabinet was also apprised of Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed's participation in the 2nd Geneva Dialogue in Switzerland and his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On way home from Geneva, the minister made a trip to Dubai and held discussion with his UAE counterpart on the issues related to mutual interests.
