The cabinet on Monday approved in principle a draft law on ‘Bangladesh Bio-diversity Act 2013’ in order conserve the country’s bio-diversity.
The weekly cabinet meeting was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. “The main objective of the law is to ensure sustainable use of the country’s bio-diversity. As per law, a national committee will be formed comprising concerned ministry’s officials, experts and scientists,” cabinet secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting.
A technical committee and a management committee would be formed at local level to help the national committee, he added.
No organisation or individual is allowed to use bio-diversity without prior permission of the national committee, he said.
The cabinet secretary further said that if there is any breach of the bio-diversity law the responsible organisation or individual would have to face five years of imprisonment or a fine of Tk 10 lakh.
“Uses of bio-diversity and findings of research would be regulated by the government as per law. If any one wants to enjoy intellectual property based on bio-diversity he or she will need permission from the national committee,” Bhuiyan said.
The cabinet secretary further said that the final approval will be given by the cabinet after vetting of the law ministry. The cabinet has also approved a proposal to sign agreement with Azerbaijan on cultural assistance, he further said.
Foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni is now visiting Azerbaijan and would able to sign the agreement following the cabinet’s approval, Bhuiyan said.
Bangladesh has agreements on cultural assistance with 39 countries and Azerbaijan will be the 40th nation in this regard, he added.
State minister for public works and housing Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan also apprised the cabinet on his participation in the 24th session of the governing council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
-With The independent input
