Cabinet approves Cox's Bazar dev authority bill

The cabinet yesterday gave the final approval to the draft of "Cox's Bazar Development Authority Bill 2015" in a bid to ensure development of the tourist city under a master plan, zoning and regulate ongoing rampant construction.

The draft law proposes constituting an authority like Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, Chittagong Development Authority and Rajshahi Development Authority to ensure planned development in Cox's Bazar.

The approval came at the weekly cabinet meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The draft will now be placed in parliament to be formulated into a law.

Briefing journalists, cabinet secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the cabinet suggested preparing a master plan for planned development of Cox's Bazar considering its growing importance.

As per the draft law, there would be a 15-member Cox's Bazar development authority comprising a female member, the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police and mayor of Cox's Bazar and 11 non-permanent members. The government will appoint its chairman and three permanent members.

"The authority will play the role of a facilitator to develop the town and enhance the living standards of its dwellers," he added.

Under the draft law, permission from the authority is mandatory for constructing establishments or undertaking development activities.

The cabinet secretary also said the authority would be able to exercise its regulatory power if anybody violates 

the law. Punitive provisions for violators include a Tk 5 lakh fine or one year's imprisonment.

The cabinet also gave approval to the draft of the "National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy 2015" to ensure effective use of the ICT to achieve middle-income status by 2021 and turn the country into a developed one by 2041.

Musharraf said the policy would ensure transparency and accountability of the government.

The policy has 10 specific objectives and 54 strategic themes with an action plan of 245 programmes which will be implemented under short, medium and long term work plans by 2016, 2018 and 2021.

The 10 objectives are ensuring social equity, integrity, universal access, education and research, employment generation, strengthening exports, and support for ICT, healthcare, environment, climate and disaster management and productivity.

According to the policy's updated data, there are 12.03 crore cellphone users and 4.74 crore internet users in the country.