Cabinet approves proposed enhancement of FFs allowance

The regular cabinet meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair gave the approvals.

Briefing reporter the meeting cabinet secretary M Shafiul Alam said the cabinet also approved a proposal of the finance division for enhancing the financial power of the cabinet committee on public procurement in giving approval of the development and non-development projects.

The cabinet approved the draft of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Act, 2016, National Salt Policy, 2016 and a position paper on increasing the age-limit of retirement of researchers and scientists having special talents and competence.

Alam said the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Act-2016 is mostly the Bengali version of a previous law while the National Salt Policy-2016 was adopted with some changes in the previous policy framed five years ago for five years.

As per new proposal recipients of the highest gallery award Bir Shrestras would get monthly allowance of Taka 30,000, Bir Uttams would get Taka 25,000,Bir Bikrams would get Taka 20,000 while Bir Prateeks would get Taka 15,000.

Currently the gallantry award recipient FFs of these categories get Taka 12,000, 10,000, 8,000 and 6,000 respectively.

The draft proposed for giving the war-wounded FFs of A category Taka 45,000 FFs of B category Taka 35,000, FFs of C category Taka 30,000 and FFS of D category Taka 25,000.

Now they receive Taka 30,000, 20,000, 16,000 and 9,700 respectively. Categories of the war wounded FFs were ascertained according the gravity of their wound.

The draft proposed for giving monthly allowance of Taka 30,000 to the families of martyred FFs while families of war-wounded FFs would get Taka 25,000. Families of the Bir Shrestras would get Taka 35,000.

The cabinet secretary said the proposals would come into effect from January 2016.

About the approval of the proposal of the finance division, Shafiul Alam said financial power of the cabinet committee has been enhanced to Taka 100 crore from Taka 50 crore while approving the both development and non-development projects.

The cabinet committee now can approve consultancy services up to Taka 30 crore in a project under development budget and up to Taka 20 crore in a project under non-development budget.

The cabinet secretary said the meeting also adopted an obituary resolution expressing deep shock at the death of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Deputy Commissioner of Chapainawabganj Zahidul Islam.

The meeting also adopted a resolution extending thanks to Tulip Rezwana Siddiqui and Rupa Haq for two Bangladesh origin British citizens becoming minister in the shadow cabinet of the Labour Party in UK.