Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today chaired the meeting of the Council of Advisers at the Chief Adviser's Office. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS) - The Council of Advisers at its weekly meeting today gave approval to six ordinances and three proposals along with discussing the interim government’s performance since its inception in August 2024.
 
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus chaired the meeting at his office in the city's Tejgaon area this morning.
 
Later, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy here this afternoon, saying the advisory council discussed a series of agenda and gave approvals.
 
The advisory council gave final approval to the drafts of the Workplace and Educational Institutions Ordinance 2026, the Domestic Violence Prevention Ordinance 2026, the Bangladesh Gas (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, the Postal Service Ordinance, 2026, the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026 and the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award Trust (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.
 
The press secretary said that due to the approval of the draft of the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award Trust (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, the name of the award will now be changed to the National Agriculture Award.
 
Besides, the Council approved a proposal to exempt 7.5 percent VAT on LP gas at local production and trader-level and 2 percent advance tax on import while imposing only a 7.5 percent VAT at the import stage of LP gas.
 
As a result of this decision, Shafiqul Alam said, the overall tax burden on LP gas will reduce, which is expected to lead to a further decline in LP gas prices in the local market.
 
The advisory council also approved another proposal to establish the Urban Safety and Resilience Institute (USRI) Bangladesh as a public trust under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.
 
While the name may be changed in the future, the press secretary said, the proposal for establishing the institution has been approved.
 
Besides, the advisers approved the proposal fixing office hours during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. As per the decision, the office hours will be from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, with a 15-minute break from 1:00 pm to 1:15 pm for Zuhr prayers.