Nationwide mourning will be observed today recalling those who were killed during the quota reform movement.

Black badges will be worn and prayers will be organised in all mosques. Besides, special prayers will be offered in all temples, churches and pagodas across the country.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held on Monday at the Prime Minister’s Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

At the meeting, the cabinet was also apprised of the full picture of losses across the country due to clashes and violence centring the quota reform movement.

A minister who participated in the cabinet meeting told the Daily Sun that Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid and Finance Secretary Khairuzzaman Majumdar presented the damages in their respective sectors to the cabinet.

The home minister informed the cabinet that 150 people have been killed in the anti-quota movement, said sources.
Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain told reporters at the secretariat that after reviewing the information, a condolence motion was adopted and the meeting decided to observe the nationwide mourning for those who were killed in the agitation.  

After that, the other members of the cabinet participated in the discussion, while the prime minister gave a number of directives to them, said sources present at the meeting.

Sources also said that apart from taking steps to overcome the losses, the prime minister has given instructions to take necessary action plans to keep the wheels of the economy running.

Moreover, the premier has given instructions to take a decision on the opening of educational institutions after observing the overall situation. Sheikh Hasina also instructed officials to be careful so that no one can use the students as a shield in the future.

Maheshkhali-Kutubdia Integrated Development Authority to be formed

The cabinet has given final approval to the draft of a new law to set up an authority to manage the development activities of the deep sea port at Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar.

Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain said on Monday, “When the cabinet gave in-principle approval to the draft law, its name was Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority. Now it is proposed to be called ‘Maheshkhali-Kutubdia Integrated Development Authority’. The word Kutubdia will be added, because the area of this authority will include land in Kutubdia.”

Besides, the cabinet approved a proposal to ratify an agreement enabling official passport holders of Bangladesh to visit Thailand with on arrival visas.

Mahbub said, “Official passport holders from Bangladesh can get visas for 30 days upon arrival in that country. Earlier we had this agreement with 29 countries. With Thailand, we now have this agreement with 30 countries.”

The cabinet has also approved the draft Bilateral Aviation Agreement between Bangladesh and India. The cabinet secretary said, “We had a bilateral agreement on air traffic with India, which was done in 1978. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has created a new format for that agreement. The two countries have agreed to sign the agreement according to that format. The conditions remain the same, including freedom, as before. The agreement sought approval only for the new format, which was given by the cabinet.”

The cabinet was also informed that 65% of the decisions taken in its meeting in the second quarter (April to June) of this year were implemented