The cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft of Road Transport (Amendment) Act, 2024 in principle bringing changes in at least 12 sections of the existing act.

The proposed amendments aim to reduce the penalties in 10 sections of the Act and convert two non-bailable sections into bailable ones.  

This proposal was approved in a cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain briefed journalists at a press conference at the Secretariat.

The cabinet gave final nod to the draft of the International Mother Language Institute (Amendment) Act, 2024.
  
The cabinet secretary said the International Mother Language Institute Act was formulated in 2010.

Mahbub Hossain said the premier gave directives to carry out research oriented programme to protect the languages which are under threat of extinction and asked to build a trust to carry out the programme.

In this regard, the amendments have been made to incorporate these matters in the act, he said.

Besides, the cabinet gave final nod to drafts of The Christian Religious Welfare Trust (Amendment) Act 2024, Hindu Religious Welfare Trust (Amendment) Act, 2024 and Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust (Amendment) Act 2024.

About the amendments, the cabinet secretary said it proposed change in the designation of the chief executive of the trusts. 

In the existing law, the designation of the post is secretary and it has been made executive director in the new law.