The proposed legislation seeks to increase the government's authority in addressing potential threats to its governance. The law proposes up to life imprisonment for treason and insurrection. Hong Kong's government unveiled a draft national security law on Friday that proposes up to life imprisonment for offenses like treason and insurrection The draft "Safeguarding National Security Bill," covers reason, espionage, external interference, state secrets, and sedition.  Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee on Thursday called for the bill to be passed at "full speed." It is expected to pass easily, possibly in weeks, in a legislature packed with Beijing loyalists following an electoral overhaul. Concerns over freedoms Critics have warned the legislation will make Hong Kong's legal framework increasingly similar to that of mainland China. The Hong Kong government has stated that several Western countries have comparable laws, and that these regulations are necessary to close gaps in the national security system, which was reinforced in 2020 with another national security law directly imposed by China. According to Hong Kong's Basic Law, the government needs to enact a national security law. A previous attempt to pass the aw resulted in mass protests in 2019, after which a security law was put in place in 2020 to crack down on dissent. Many pro-democracy activists have been arrested and punished, while others have escaped abroad. Several society groups and outspoken media outlets have been disbanded. The government of the former British colony has said that it would affect only "an extremely small minority" of residents. Several stakeholders are closely monitoring these developments. Some critics say this will cause a further decline in the civil liberties enjoyed by Hong Kong citizens.

The recently unveiled draft regulations by the European Union this week are likely to impact Chinese exports if enacted, contributing to heightened tensions between Beijing and Brussels, the Voice of America reported, citing analysts. The recently unveiled draft regulations by the European Union this week are likely to impact Chinese exports if enacted, contributing to heightened tensions between Beijing and Brussels, the Voice of America reported, citing analysts.    The regulations, disclosed on Wednesday, aim to safeguard the EU's economy and prevent sensitive technology from reaching geopolitical rivals. A statement accompanying the draft positioned the regulations as part of an initiative to bolster the bloc's economic security "at a time of growing geopolitical tensions and profound technological shifts," Chermaine Lee writes in VOA. The comprehensive package includes measures to reinforce export controls, identify potentially risky foreign investments in the tech sector, enhance the security of sensitive research, and scrutinize foreign investments. Chinese foreign direct investment into Europe has slowed in recent years, reaching an eight-year low in 2022, as concerns about supply chain, technology, and infrastructure security have grown, according to Clara Brandi, a professor of economics and political science at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability in Bonn, reported VOA.   The new limits come despite China's pleas for the EU to loosen limitations on high-tech items. On the day the economic security package was announced, China's Chamber of Commerce in the EU issued a statement stating that more than half of the enterprises polled were concerned about the impact of the new screening process, VOA reported. More than one-fifth of the 180 Chinese firms polled indicated they intended to grow their presence in Europe during the next one to three years, as well as boost their investment and merger and acquisition activity. Notably, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week. During the meeting, Li urged the EU to "uphold justice, compliance, and transparency in economic and trade matters" and "treat Chinese enterprises fairly." Li also urged the EU to proceed "prudently" as it implements restrictive economic and trade policies.   Source: ANI

The final approval to the draft of Cyber Security Act, 2023 which will replace the existing Digital Security Act.  The approval came from the Cabinet meeting held on Monday at Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the city chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain said in a press briefing that, "In the draft law, the offenses under four sections - 17, 19, 27 and 33, have been made non-bailable." He said the trial procedure of the ongoing cases filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) will be run following the same law.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of Bank-Company (Amendment) Act, 2023 in a bid to check willful loan defaulters. Under the draft law, maximum three members (instead of existing four members) of a family will be allowed to be directors of a bank. The approval came from the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office here. Now the banking activities are run under the Bank-Company Act, 1991. Its amendment proposal was brought in order to make the law modern and time-befitting one, said Secretary (Coordination & Reforms) at the Cabinet Division Mahmudul Hossain Khan while briefing reporters at the secretariat after the meeting. “Those who are willful loan defaulters are defined and what actions will be taken against them are mentioned here,” he said. Talking about the actions, the secretary said the banks must send the list of willful loan defaulters to Bangladesh Bank and it can impose ban on going abroad,  issuance of trade license (against them), and registration under the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and the Registrar of Joint Stock Company and Firm. Besides, a willful loan defaulter can’t be eligible to be a director of a bank or financial institution until five years passes after being excluded from the list of willful loan defaulters, he said. If any director of a bank becomes a willful loan defaulter, Bangladesh Bank can declare his post vacant, he added. The secretary said if a bank fails to send the list of loan defaulters to Bangladesh Bank in time, the bank can be fined Tk 50 lakh to Tk one crore. The bank will have to count additional Tk one lakh as fine for every each day delay, he said. “As per the existing law, the maximum four members of a family can be directors of any bank, but it has been reduced to three now,” he said. The bank directors and their family members must provide collaterals, bond or security for taking loans from the bank as per a new provision incorporated in the draft law. A provision was also included here so that Bangladesh Bank can regularly inspect different institutions and foundations run under the law, he added.

First time, in the legislative history of India, pronouns such as 'her' and 'she' have been used to denote all genders in a draft law. The draft Digital Personal Protection Bill, 2022, which has been put up for public consultation on Friday, finds mention of the two pronouns. "With the philosophy Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government works, we have attempted to use the word 'she' and 'her' in the entire Bill instead of 'him' and 'his'. This is an innovative thing attempted in the bill," Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday. The focus of the Bill is to protect internet users from online harm and create a safe and trusted digital ecosystem as India is a digital economy powerhouse today. For the record, three months after the withdrawal of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill from the lower house of the Parliament, the central government today came up with a new draft Bill seeking views from the public. The central government during the recent Monsoon session of Parliament withdrew the Bill from the Lok Sabha several months after it was introduced. Vaishnaw had earlier said that the Bill was withdrawn because the Joint Parliamentary Committee recommended 81 amendments in a bill of 99 sections. "Above that it made 12 major recommendations. Therefore, the bill has been withdrawn and a new bill will be presented for public consultation," he had said. The reintroduced draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, has proposed six types of penalties on non-companies to companies. To prevent a personal data breach, a penalty of up to Rs 250 core is being proposed in the draft bill which has been put out for public comments earlier today. Besides, failure to notify the Board and affected Data Principals in the event of a personal data breach and non-fulfilment of additional obligations in relation to Children may attract Rs penalty up to Rs 200 crore. Non-fulfilment of additional obligations of Significant Data Fiduciary under the sections 11 and 16 of the Act may attract Rs 150 crore and Rs 10 crore fines, respectively. Lastly, non-compliance with provisions of this Act other than those listed in (1) to (5) and any rule made thereunder will attract penalties up to Rs 50 crore. Regarding the transfer of personal data outside India, the Bill said the Central Government may, after an assessment of such factors as it may consider necessary, notify such countries or territories outside India to which a Data Fiduciary may transfer personal data, in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be specified. In major exemption, the Central Government may, by notification, exempt from the application of provisions of this Act, the processing of personal data by any instrumentality of the State in the interests of sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, maintenance of public order or preventing incitement to any cognizable offence. The government said during the drafting of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 the entire gamut of principles was widely debated and discussed. These include rights of individuals, duties of entities processing personal data and regulatory framework, among others.  

The cabinet today (Thursday) approved in principle the draft of the Drugs Act, 2022 intensifying the punishment for several anomalies and offenses to the maximum 10-year jail and Taka 10 lakh penalty. The approval was given at the regular cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and held at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The premier joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban, while her cabinet colleagues were present at the meeting room of the Cabinet Division. Briefing the reporters after the meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said the highest punishment of 10-year imprisonment, Taka 10 lakh penalty or both were kept in several sections of the draft law for the drug related anomalies and offenses. In the existing law, there is a maximum three-year jail and Taka two lakh fine for the irregularities. The offenses, for which the maximum punishment of 10-year jail and Taka 10 lakh fine were kept in the draft law, include producing or importing drugs without licenses; producing, importing, exporting, marketing, stocking, selling or showcasing drugs without registration; producing, selling, stocking or marketing adulterated drugs; as well as stealing and selling government's drugs. Besides, the meeting gave the final endorsement to the draft of the State Acquisition and Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 2022 bringing a minor change in the existing law to reduce the pending cases. There is a provision for a tribunal in the law. At the district level, assistant judges or senior assistance judges can be given the authority to try the cases, while the district judges can act as the appeal authority until the formal tribunal is formed as per the draft law, said the cabinet secretary, adding that this minor amendment was brought. The cabinet also approved in principle the draft of the National Industry Policy, 2022 with a view to accelerating the economic progress of Bangladesh through industrialization with the balanced use of local raw materials and resources alongside cashing the facilities of the 4th industrial revolution. In addition, the meeting cleared the proposal for ratification of two agreements to be signed with Saudi Arabia and Serbia. The deeds are the agreement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, while the agreement between Bangladesh and Serbia over visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders. Source: BSS AH

The country’s people aged 18 to 50 years would be eligible for the benefit of the universal pension scheme to be introduced by the government after being of their age 60 years.      Each person of the country, on the basis of availing the scheme, would start to receive the pension after becoming 60 years old as the Cabinet today gave final approval (upon the vetting of the law ministry) of the draft of “Universal Pension Management Act, 2022”.      Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the newsmen after the meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat.       Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the capital.       Apart from the people aged between 18 to 50 years, the cabinet secretary said under special arrangements, the elderly people can also avail the benefits of this pension through participating in the scheme.       In order to come under the pension scheme, one has to pay a fixed amount of premium for at least 10 years, he said, adding that after completing 60 years, the person will get this benefit till death.      Now, after the vetting from the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Law Ministry, the act will be sent to the National Parliament, said Anwarul Islam.       He said, “All Bangladeshi nationals aged from 18 to 50 years can participate in this pension scheme. And the expatriate Bangladeshis can also take part in it. They (expatriates) can get registered and provide premium”.        The Finance Division has placed the draft of the Universal Pension Management Act, 2022 aiming to bring the growing elderly population under a sustainable social safety net for the causes of unemployment, disease, paralysis, old age or other similar conditions, or penury amid the high life expectancy rate.        Anwarul Islam said if an elderly person dies before the age of 75 years, the nominee will get the pension for the remaining time, posing an example that if anyone dies at 62, his nominee will get pension for 13 years.        Besides, if someone dies while paying the premium, but he is not yet 60 years of age, then the nominee of that person will get the deposited money with one time benefit, he said.       He added: “That person will not get any pension”.         For example, he said a person is 20 years old and is contributing to this pension. If he dies at the age of 30, then his nominee will get the deposited money with one time benefit, he added.        However, the amount of premium will be determined by a rule under the proposed law, he also said.         According to the proposed law, there will be a five-member national pension authority headed by a chairman and also a 15-member governing body with the Finance Minister as its chair, said the cabinet secretary. Besides, the Cabinet in principle approved the draft of the Press Council (Amendment) Act, 2022 aiming to improve and maintain the standard of the newspapers and news agencies as well as remove false journalism. A proposal was made in the draft law to impose monetary fine for harming or breaking the security of the State, public order and morality, but the Cabinet rejected it, said the cabinet secretary. “The Cabinet left it (the amount of fine) on discretion of the press council,” he said, adding that the council can voluntarily take offenses in cognizance. He said the draft law will come back to the Cabinet as it didn’t give the final approval yet.  The proposed law was designed to bring an amendment to the existing law of 1974, he added. In reply to a question, Anwarul Islam said the news agencies mean all print and digital media.   There will be a 17-member press council instead of the existing 14-member one as per the draft law, he said. Moreover, the Cabinet cleared a proposal for Bangladesh to sign and ratify Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published works for persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted in 2013 in Marrakesh, Morocco by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to address the widespread problem known as a “book famine,” the situation where few books are published in formats that are accessible to those who are blind or visually impaired. Moreover, the Cabinet cancelled its previous decision over the formation of Sovereign Wealth Fund, which was taken in 2015. Source: BSS AH

The Cabinet today (Monday) approved the draft of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner Appointment Act, 2022 aiming to formulate a law as per the Constitution.     The approval came at the regular Cabinet meeting held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.    "Final approval was given today to adopt a law over appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners . . .," said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing the newsmen in the Bangladesh Secretariat after the meeting.    As per the proposed law, a search committee will be constituted taking approval from the President regarding forming the Election Commission, he said.     He added, "The search committee will recommend the names of suitable candidates before the President to appoint the CEC and other election commissioners."     Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid has started a dialogue with registered political parties on December 20 last to discuss the issues related to the constitution of the Election Commission ahead of the 12th general election to be held at the end of 2023 or the early 2024.     Earlier, the last two election commissions, headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed and KM Nurul Huda, were constituted through the search committees formed by the President following his dialogues with the political parties.     The President picked the CEC and four election commissioners in 2012 and 2017 from the names suggested by the search committee.    Besides, the Cabinet cleared the drafts of three laws --Jatiya Muktijoddha Council Act, 2022, Bangladesh Gas, Oil and Mineral Corporation Act, 2022 and Anti-Inequality Act, 2022 (Boishomya Birodhi Aiyen)- as well as the draft of National Salt Policy, 2022.  Source: BSS AH

The Cabinet today (Monday)  cleared the draft of Finance Company Act, 2021, in principle, keeping several clauses of executive punishment for breaching the law alongside criminal offenses. The approval came from the weekly cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The Premier joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban, while her Cabinet colleagues at Bangladesh Secretariat. “The new law has been designed making changes to the Finance Institutions Act, 1993 as it (existing law) is not so effective in this present context,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing the reporters after the meeting at the Cabinet Division. As per the proposed law, he said, the existing financial institutions would turn into companies but they won’t require fresh registration or change their present memorandum of associations. According to the bill, Anwarul said, none can run a finance company in Bangladesh without taking a license from Bangladesh Bank. The bill also precisely defined loan defaulters as well as fixed the ceilings for the amount of deposited money and interest rates, he added. During the approval of the draft law, he said, the Cabinet also gave an observation for the authorities concerned to review whether the bankruptcy issue of a company can be solved outside the court, and the issue can be incorporated in the proposed law. The Cabinet Secretary said now the court declares a company bankrupt, which is time consuming issue to remove the bankruptcy-related complexities following the High Court’s judgment. Besides, the Cabinet cleared the draft of Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 2021 in order to replace the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Remuneration and Privileges) Ordinance, 1979, which was promulgated during the military regime. “No major change has been brought in the proposed law,” he said. It also approved the draft of Bangladesh Homoeopathic Treatment Education Act, 2021 in principle, which will replace the Bangladesh Homoeopathic Practitioners Ordinance, 1983. The meeting cleared the draft Bengali and English versions of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy. In addition, the Cabinet also approved the draft of an agreement to be signed between Bangladesh and Botswana on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports. Source: BSS AH

The ministry of liberation war affairs has published the draft list of one lakh 80 thousand freedom fighters. If there is any objection about the draft list then the ministry would publish the final list after scrutiny. According to the concerned ministry source, to avert any kind of mistake the ministry has published the draft list through online for scrutiny. Any name of the great freedom fighter will be out of the coverage of scrutiny if it is recognized in the Indian list or Lal Muktibarta or by the proof of 33 categories by the ministry. The new names included in the list will be under scrutiny. Earlier, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said, the draft list of the freedom fighters will be published on February 15 and the final list will be published on the Independence Day. The scrutiny process is going on after including one lakh 40 thousand freedom fighters in the list at the upazila level. In this time 15 thousand names could be increased including the martyrs, wounded, title recipients and Birangana freedom fighters. The government has taken initiative to publish a full-fledged list of freedom fighters. Now civilian gazettes have been scrutinized apart from the approval of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (JaMuKa) as part of publishing the list of freedom fighters. AH