DHAKA, Nov 27, 2021 (BSS) – The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) today passed two bills through voice votes with Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury presiding the session.

The two bills are: The Highways Bill, 2021, proposed by Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and The Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill, 2021, proposed by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.

The Highways Bill, 2021, has been updated incorporating 19 provisions which had five provisions earlier.  

The identification of overloading, highway damage, highway stability, overall safety, vehicular mobility and duties of highway users were specified in the bill.

Besides, necessary provisions have been included to determine the structure with necessary facilities by giving the highest priority to highway safety.

At the same time, necessary provisions have been made in the bill to determine the rights of highway users.

Necessary provisions have been made in The Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill, 2021 specifying the jurisdiction of court for disclosing the information.

The new law recommends making information public except those of private ones after taking permission from the court and fixing the authorities who can do that.

Opposition bench members -- Rustam Ali Faraiji, M Mujibul Haque and Raushan Ara Mannan of Jatiya Party and Harunur Rashid, Mosharraf Hossain and Rumin Farhana of BNP and independent member Rezaul Karim Bablu took part in the discussion.