JS passes bill extending BB governor age limit

Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday passed the Bangladesh Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2020 extending the age limit of the governor of the central bank to 67 years amid protest of opposition lawmakers.

The house passed the bill in voice-vote after planning minister MA Mannan placed it on behalf of finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.

Until the bill was passed the age limit for Bangladesh Bank governor was 65 years.

According to the Bangladesh Bank Order 1972, no person can remain in the governor’s post after the age of 65 years.

Opposition lawmakers M Harunur Rashid, M Mujibul Haque, Rowshan Ara Mannan and Pir Fazlur Rahman demanded to send the bill for public opinion saying that the bill was placed in the house to extend the age limit of a person only.

They said that the instance would encourage other government service holders to raise demand of age limit extension.

They also demanded to empower the central bank to make sure discipline in the banking sector as the sector was surviving from reserve theft and huge loan deflating cases.

Ignoring the demands of the opposition lawmakers, the bill was passed in majority votes in the house.

On June 8, the Cabinet approved in principle the draft of the amendment extending the age limit for the governor of the central bank by two years.\

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net