Three public universities, including Jagannath University, which were supposed to self-finance after a certain period of time, will continue receiving government money.
The government passed three bills to this end yesterday, scrapping provisions in the university acts, which made them mandatory to become self-reliant by gradually increasing their own income.
The two other institutions are Comilla University and Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University.
According to the new provisions made through passage of the bills, the three universities will bear their expenditure from their own income and from the money they will be receiving from the government and University Grant Commission (UGC).
The Jagannath University Act passed in 2005 had earlier said the government would phase out its fund for the university and it would have to run with its own income from the fifth year after it became a university.
The acts for Comilla and Nazrul universities were passed in 2006. The laws previously required the institutions to become self-financed after 10 years into their inception.
FIVE BILLS PLACED IN PARLIAMENT
A bill on Grameen Bank Amendment Act 2012, which contains some controversial changes to the bank's 1983 ordinance, was placed in parliament yesterday.
Planning Minister AK Khandker placed it on behalf of Finance Minister AMA Muhith.
The controversial changes vest more power on the Grameen Bank chairman regarding choosing the bank's managing director.
President Zillur Rahman recently promulgated an ordinance amending the Grameen Bank Ordinance, 1983. The ordinance now waits to be passed into law.
As per the changes, the chairman, always appointed by the government, in consultation with the board shall constitute a selection committee of not less than three and not more than five members for the purpose of selecting candidates for appointment as managing director.
The selection committee shall recommend a panel of three candidates and the board will pick one from the panel.
The amendments have drawn huge flak from different quarters over the fear that Grameen Bank would turn into a government-controlled institution.
Meanwhile State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam placed a bill seeking amendment to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 to reduce time for filing of appeals against judgments on war crimes to 30 days from 60 days.
Another bill was placed for enactment of a law to establish a sustainable and renewable energy development authority in the country.
State Minister for Home Shamshul Hoque Tuku placed it on behalf of State Minister for Energy, Power and Mineral Resources Enamul Haq.
State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak placed a bill seeking to bring some changes in the cooperative society act 2001. He placed it on behalf of LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam.
Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira placed a bill to bring changes in the vested property act extending timeframe for publication of gazettes of vested properties.