A bill titled 'Payment and Settlement System Bill-2024' aimed at bringing all kinds of payments generated in banks and non-bank financial institutions under the supervision of Bangladesh Bank (BB) was passed in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Tuesday.
Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali moved the bill which was passed by voice votes in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
While placing the bill, the Finance Minister said that many kinds of payments and transactions using digital platforms were taking place along with traditional payments.
The enactment of the law will help to ensure the rights of the subscribers.
The increasing transactions through the electronic payment system, the electronic fund transfer and mobile banking will come under the purview of the proposed law. It would provide users with a safeguard from electronic frauds, according to the bill.
The draft has provisions of imposing penalties for violating the law. A fine of Taka 25 lakh has been proposed as the maximum financial penalty.
The BB will exercise a provision of the proposed law to cancel licenses of the errant companies.
It will also be entitled to appeal to the High Court division of the Supreme Court for liquidation of companies if they are engaged in anti-people activities.
In 2015, the BB first formulated the draft under a World Bank programme for strengthening the country's financial system.
According to the finance division officials, the passage of the law will help releasing loans committed by the WB under the programme.
Opposition and Independent lawmakers including Pankaj Devnath of Barishal-4, Hamidul Huq Khondoker of Kurigram-2 and Jatiya Party lawmaker Hafizuddin Ahmed of Thakurgaon-3 urged the House to send the bill for seeking public review.
JS passes Trade and Tariff Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024
Besides, Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was also passed in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Tuesday with a view to further amending Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission Act, 1992.
State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu moved the bill in the House and it was passed by voice votes with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
While placing the bill, the state minister said the amendment bill has been placed to bring change in the name of the post of "secretary" of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission.
"We have taken an action plan to make our export earn US$100 billion within next three years and that's why the enactment of the law will play a pivotal role", said the state minister on behalf of the bill.
Apart from this, he said the ministry also working to make the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) more effective as the corporation now distributing essentials among one crore lower income families with fifty percent subsidy rate.
Taking part in the discussion on the bill, Independent lawmaker Pankaj Devnath of Barishal-4 said "The bill has been brought to parliament without any interest of the mass people."
Rejecting the enactment of the bill, another independent lawmaker Hamidul Huq Khondoker of Kurigram-2 said the amendment of the bill will not bring any benefit for the law. The bill has been brought only for changing a word.
Jatiya party lawmaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed of Thakurgaon-3 also sought public review on the bill.
