Rakub work expanded thru\\\' passage of bill

The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) has unanimously passed 'The Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (Rakub) Bill, 2014 in an amended form aimed at bringing more people under the bank's services through expanding its activities and generating employment in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions.

The House passed the bill on Monday on voice votes as per the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Finance, reports BSS.

Earlier, on September 15, 2014, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith introduced the bill in the House and later it was sent to the parliamentary standing committee concerned for scrutiny under the Rules of Procedure.

Later, Chairman of the standing committee Dr M Abdur Razzaque submitted the report on the bill before the House on November 16, 2014.

The finance minister said processing of fish and livestock products would be considered as agricultural activities through passage of the Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (Rakub) Bill, 2014.

Fishermen as well as livestock and poultry producers would be treated as small farmers and the services of the bank would be expanded further by the new law, he said.

The minister said the bill proposed for making the existing ordinance time befitting and broadening the definition of agriculture and small farmers.

"The Rakub would play a vital role in agricultural economy through providing loan on agricultural activities in the North-Western region through the new bill," he hoped.