The interim government will not provide any more scope to whiten black money and issue instructions in this regard soon, said sources.

The interim government’s advisory council also approved the proposal to repeal the security law for protecting Bangabandhu’s family members and to amend the law to provide SSF security to the chief adviser in its fourth meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his official residence Jamuna on Thursday.

After the meeting, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters, “You are seeing that many important works have been started as part of the reforms in our financial sector. A decision has been taken to stop the rule and practice of whitening black money, because the damage it causes to people’s sense of value is much more than the government agendas advanced by the amount of money that can be recovered in this way.”

“A clarification and analysis is being formulated in this regard. Earlier instructions were given through an order that black money can be whitened, but now opposite directions will be given.”

Action against money laundering has also been started, said the environment and forest adviser.

Rizwana said there was a detailed discussion on the flood situation in the advisory council meeting. There was talk of coordinating efforts. In order to protect the interests of the workers in the export-oriented industries affected by the floods, the government has taken support measures.

"Almost all our ministry and department officials have deposited one day’s salary for the flood victims. The remaining offices which have not donated the money are preparing to do so," she said.

Rizwana said the government has started doing whatever it takes to keep the price of essential products within the people’s purchase capacity.

She said, “In the case of Hajj, we see that a syndicate increases the Hajj package prices inordinately. The concerned ministry has started working to reduce the cost of Hajj in a reasonable manner. There was no talk about how much the cost would be or how much it would be reduced. However, initial analysis has shown that the package prices are excessive and can be reduced.”

Stating that the interim government will continue the dialogue process with the political parties, Rizwana said, "We will accept the reform proposals that will come from them. A method has been discussed in that regard. An earlier approach was GO-NGO (government and non-government organisations) coordination. It has been decided to revive the coordination of government and private institutions.

“We will prepare a note about what the government has done within one month from the time of assuming responsibility and give it to you (journalists).”

One reporter asked the adviser to comment on the matter that during the previous government, many officers took promotions, claiming that they were deprived, and many are still assuming good positions.

Responding to that, Rizwana said, "Our position regarding the allegations of corruption against an official is clear. Any government needs officials to carry out its work. If we see efficiency, then there is no immediate need to make a decision about it. How will we proceed if we decide not to take any of those who were in good posts earlier? – will be a big question.

“If you have a specific complaint about someone, please let us know. If we keep talking in terms of ‘this regime, that regime, previous regime’, then what will be the difference between us and them?”

Security law for Bangabandhu’s family members to be repealed

The advisory council has decided to annul the law made for the safety of the family members of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, considering it a discriminatory policy.

For this reason, the draft of the Security of Family Members of the Father of the Nation (Repeal) Ordinance, 2024 was approved in principle.

Rizwana said, “Our government is an outcome of the anti-discrimination movement. Does the security agency think there is a need for such special security? The answer is that they do not think there is a need for such a special law. Moreover, it was considered discriminatory, on the basis of which a decision was taken to abolish it.”

After the formation of the Awami League government in 2009, the “Bill for Security of Father of the Nation’s Family Members, 2009” was unanimously passed in the parliament. Under that law, the surviving members of Bangabandhu’s family were guaranteed lifetime special security facilities.

Apart from this, the law also made provisions for safe and secure housing and other necessary facilities for each of these family members. A gazette was issued in this regard in May 2015.

Chief adviser to get SSF security

The advisory council has given final approval to the draft of the Special Security Force (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024.

According to a Cabinet Division notification, the Special Security Force (SSF) Act, 2021 was enacted to provide security to the Bangladesh president, prime minister, Bangabandhu’s family members, the head of state or government of the state, and very important persons.

“In view of the mass uprising led by the students, an interim government consisting of the chief adviser and other advisers was formed on 8 August. In such changed circumstances, the chief adviser’s security needs to be ensured under the Special Security Force Act.

“Besides, under the existing law, the provisions related to the security of the family members of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman cannot be implemented in administrative management. The Special Security Force (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024 was unanimously approved in the advisory council meeting as it was felt necessary to abolish some of the provisions of the said law, and add the issue of making provision for the security of the chief adviser of the interim government.”

The proposal to ratify the “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)” was also approved in the advisory council meeting.