Persons responsible for adulterating fertilisers will have to face jail time and hefty fine from now on.
To this end, the Cabinet approved in principle the draft of "The Fertiliser (Management) Amendment Act, 2018".
The approval was given on Monday at the weekly meeting of the cabinet held at the Prime Minister's Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told reporters that as per draft, the punishment for selling adulterated fertiliser would be two-years imprisonment or Tk 500,000 or both.
The punishment in the existing law is six month imprisonment or Tk 30,000 fine or both.
Shafiul Alam said the draft law has been proposed bringing some changes in the existing law of 2006.
Under the draft law, number of the members of the National Fertiliser Standardisation Committee headed by the Agriculture Minister would be 17 instead of existing 15.
As per the existing law, any appeal regarding fertiliser management shall be disposed of within 10 days of submission of the appeal, according to a report on UNB agency.
In this regard, the cabinet Secretary said a new sub-section has been incorporated keeping provision of review under which any aggrieved person can file review petition.
The cabinet meeting also gave final approval to the draft of "Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Act, 2018" and "The Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) Act, 2018".
Besides, the cabinet in principle approved the draft of National Defence Policy 2018 outlined on the basis of the existing Defence Policy of 1974 formulated by Bangabandhu.
The Cabinet Secretary said the new policy has detailed guidelines on the capability of the armed forces, its relation with media and people.
During war and crisis moment of the country, all paramilitary and supportive forces like Police, BGB, Coast Guard and BNCC will work under operational command of the Armed Force, he said.
The cabinet also unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound shock and sorrow at the death of 49 people, including 26 Bangladeshi nationals, in the US-Bangla Plane crash on 12th March at Tribhuban International airport in Kathmandu of Nepal.
Besides, another condolence motion was also adopted by the cabinet expressing deep shock at the death of noted freedom fighter and sculptor Ferdousi Priyabhashini.
