Public servants can't be arrested without permission, draft law proposes

The draft of a new law has proposed a provision of taking approval of concerned authorities to arrest a public servant before issuance of charge sheet in any criminal case.

The cabinet on Monday gave final approval to the draft of the 'Sarkari Chakori Ain, 2018' keeping the provision. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the cabinet meeting held at her office in Dhaka.

According to BSS, the approval was given with an aim to ensure recruitment in the public service based on merit and open competition.

Cabinet Secretary Md. Shafiul Alam briefed the reporters at the secretariat after the meeting. He said the new law has been framed amalgamating six existing laws.

“All important aspects of the previous laws were brought together in the new law,” he said adding that the new law will replace the six existing laws.

The laws are-Public Service Retirement Act, Services Reorganization Act, Public Service Special Provision Ordinance, 1979, Punctual Attendance Act 1982, Dismissal and Conviction Act 1985, Surplus Government Employees Accommodation Act.

According to the new law, a government employee would get promotion based on merit, competence, seniority, training and satisfactory services.

As per law, the age limit for entry in the public service would be determined by the rules. The highest age limit of an employee for government job would be 59 years and 60 years for freedom fighters.

The cabinet also gave final approval to the draft of the Infectious Diseases (prevention, control and eradication) Act, 2018 identifying 23 diseases as infectious.

The cabinet in Monday's meeting also approved in principal the draft of the “Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Construction (control)( amendment) Act, 2018 and draft of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

At the beginning of the meeting, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroj Chumki handed over two certificates of accolade to the Prime Minister. UNICEF conferred the accolades on Bangladesh on July 31 last for success in abating child marriage.

The Cabinet also adopted obituary references expressing profound shock at the death of eight eminent persons.

They are former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Chief Whip of the Opposition Party in the Parliament Tajul Islam Chowdhury, former Cabinet Secretary Ayubur Rahman, noted journalist Golam Sarwar, former Chief Information Commissioner Mohammed Farooq, Tax Advisor of the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Employment Bank Advocate M Moniruzzaman Khandakar and Independence Award laureate artiste Bazlur Rahman Badal.