Advisory committee to be formed for amending tobacco law

The interim government will constitute an advisory committee to offer opinions and recommendations for amendments to the existing tobacco control law.

The decision came from a meeting of the council of advisers chaired by chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday.

Chief Adviser‍‍`s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in the evening on the outcome of the Council of Advisers‍‍` meeting.

Then the Health Services Division placed the draft of Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 in the meeting in a bid to amend the existing act of 2013.

But the council decided that the Cabinet Division will form the advisory committee to frame the draft ordinance in line with the opinions and recommendation of the committee.

Then the draft ordinance will be placed again in the meeting of the council of advisers for approval.

In other matters, the council of advisers cleared the drafts of two visa exemption agreements with Uzbekistan and Ethiopia.    

The agreements are ‘Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Uzbekistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on Visa-Free Travel for Diplomatic Passport Holders’ and ‘Agreement between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on the Mutual Waiver of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Service/Official Passports.’

Moreover, a report on implementation progress of the decisions taken by the council of advisers in the first three months of this government from August 2024-October 2024 was placed in the meeting.

As per the report, a total of 65 decisions were taken in the 11 meetings of the council of advisers during this time. Of these decisions, 39 have been executed.

Besides, the council cleared 10 draft ordinances, eight agreements and protocols, and two policies in the three months.

Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present at the briefing.