Bill placed in parliament to ban protests, strikes in essential services

A bill has been placed in parliament with provision that allows the government to ban any "illegal strike" if it deems it necessary in the public interest.

A person who starts or continues an illegal strike shall be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of six months or with a fine of Tk50,000 or both, the bill proposes.

Keeping these provisions, the Essential Services Bill-2023 was raised in the 22nd session of the National Parliament on Thursday. 

The bill states that, if the government deems it necessary, in the public interest, the government can prohibit lockout (total or partial closure or suspension of work by an owner) and layoff (failure of the owner to engage workers due to shortage of raw materials or stockpiling or breakdown of equipment) at any establishment.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Munnujan Sufian placed the bill in parliament and it was sent to the parliamentary standing committee of the respective ministry for further examination.

The new act will repeal the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1958, and the Essential Services (Second) Ordinance, 1958.

As per the draft law of the proposed bill, the government can declare the essential status of any service for a maximum of six months and would be able to declare any service essential when necessary.

Bangladesh parliament on Thursday morning opened a special session to mark the 50th anniversary of the national legislature.
With Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, the session started at around 11:00am and was adjourned till 3pm Friday.

Bill on PPP authority

Also on the day, a bill seeking to make major changes in the role of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority of the country in financial and administrative powers and performance of functions was placed in the parliament. 

The bill titled "The Bangladesh Public-Private Partnership (PPP) (Amendment) Bill, 2023" was placed in the House by Liberation Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq who is in charge of the Prime Minister Office in parliament, reports UNB.

It was then sent to the respective committee for further scrutiny and sent it back to the House within 30 days.

The existing law states that PPP Authority shall be impartial and independent in the exercise of financial and administrative powers and performance of functions.

But in the proposed amendment the word 'independent' has been dropped.

The Bangladesh Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, 2015 was enacted to create a partnership with the private sector by attracting local and foreign investment aimed at improving the living standard of the people and expediting the country's socioeconomic progress as well as building infrastructures.

The amendment also proposed to allow the vice-chairperson in absence of the chairperson of the PPP Authority to chair any meeting and the number of meetings per year will be at least two.

The bill also seeks to change the appointing authority of the PPP Authority from the Board of Governors to the government.

Bill on Bangladesh Biman

The Bangladesh Biman Corporation (repeal) Bill 2023 was also placed in parliament on Thursday.

The bill aims to amend and reinstate Bangladesh Biman order-1972.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali placed the bill and it was sent to the respective scrutiny committee for further examination.

The committee was asked to submit its report within 30 days.