Cabinet approves proposal to amend Bangladesh-India Extradition Treaty

The approval came from the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters.

He said the Indian government has proposed to simplify the existing treaty through amending the clause 10/3, adding as per the proposal, the home ministry placed this amendment before the cabinet today.

Alam said from now on both Bangladesh and India can extradite any accused for his or her trial to each other country if any judge, magistrate, tribunal and competent authority of the respective countries issue warrant for arrest against him or her.

The cabinet secretary said a bit complexity exists in the present extradition process as there is a need to show evidence alongside the warrant for arrest against the accused for his or her extradition. "But, as per the amendment, there will be no need to show evidence against the accused," he said.

He also informed that the current extradition treaty between the two neighboring countries was effective on October 23, 2013.

Alam said the cabinet also okayed in principle the draft of "The Bangladesh Jute Research Institute Law, 2016" aimed at further strengthening research work on jute and promoting jute production in the country.

Alam said the original law --"The Bangladesh Jute Research Institute Act, 1974 -- was amended several times including a number of times during the martial law regimes.

"The draft of the proposed law was placed before the cabinet today as a 'composite law' incorporating some new clauses as well as translating the original law into Bangla as per a directive of the Supreme Court that had earlier declared all martial law time ordinances and amendments illegal," he said.

The cabinet secretary said strengthening research work on jute as well as promotion of country's jute production is under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute.

As per the draft law, he said, with prior approval of the government,
the headquarters of the institute could be shifted to another place, while one or more branch offices could be set up wherever necessary and appropriate.

About the legal structure of the institute, the cabinet secretary said there will be a board where the director general of the institute would be appointed as its chairman by the government.

About the responsibility of the institute, he said, it will control, develop, and conduct all the technical and economic research activities related to jute and jute fibre products as well as expand production of jute and jute-related crops in the country.

The institute will also work to produce, conduct, examine, supply
quality jute seeds in limited volume maintaining purity and high standard, he added.

Alam said the institute will collect jute seeds and supply these among the selected farmers, recognised organizations and other agencies approved by the board.

Besides, it will also set up more regional centres and sub-centres in different parts of the country to solve problems related to jute production through conducting research works there and implement pilot projects to this end.

The cabinet secretary added that the institute will also arrange exhibition on new varieties of jute and jute goods as well as organize training for the farmers to attract them in such products.

"It will also publish annual report and various booklets and publications regarding jute research and jute products," he said.

Apart from these, he said, the institute will also provide necessary training to officials and employees of the organizations concerned as well as to the beneficiaries.

Alam said the cabinet also endorsed a proposal of the Industries Ministry to ratify "The Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between the government of Bangladesh and Cambodia."

Besides, he said, the cabinet gave a nod to a proposal for relaxation of the provision of the circular No. 59 (dated 16/02/2010) issued by the Ministry of Public Administration to fill up the vacant posts of senior staff nurses from the national merit list in case of unavailability of the qualified candidates.

The circular was issued aimed at preserving the unfilled vacant posts of the senior staff nurses under the special/priority quota.

The cabinet was also apprised of the participation of a Bangladesh delegation led by the Prime Minister in the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on July 15-16.

Ministers and state ministers concerned attended the meeting, while secretaries concerned were present.