The Jatiya Sangsad passed the “Bangladesh Jute Research Institute Bill, 2017” making provisions for establishing an institute to this effect for conducting research on innovating improved variety of jute, simplifying production and devising technologies for diversified use of jute.
Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury moved the bill in the House on Monday with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. The bill was passed in the House unanimously with voice votes.
Despite annulment of the Jute Research Act, 1974, the bill has proposed retaining the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute established under this law as if it has been set up as per the same act. The bill also recommended keeping the head office of the institute in Dhaka.
The bill has ascertained nine specific activities to be carried out by the institute. The bill says whatever contained in this law the institute will abide by the instructions, recommendations and advices received from Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council.
The bill also recommended constituting a board comprising directors of the institute with the director general as the chairman for running the institute.
The bill has also made specific provisions, including the authority of formulating rules and regulations, for carrying out activities relating to the board, board meetings, appointment of the director general, authority and responsibility of the director general, appointment of directors, recruitment of employees, fund, budget, accounting and auditing, report, formation of committees, power of taking loans, singing agreements, foreign training and education, appointment of researchers and technologists and awarding fellowships.
