The government has introduced a peace award in the name of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, starting next year.
Nominations for the award, which will be presented biennially, are open worldwide.

On Monday, a cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Peace Award Policy, 2024.”

Following the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain said, "Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was awarded the Joliot-Curie Medal of Peace, the first
international award for Bangladesh, on 23 May 1973.”

He also mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the introduction of a peace award in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s name in 2023.

Under this policy, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Peace Award can be conferred upon individuals, institutions, or organisations both within Bangladesh and worldwide for their contributions to global peace, said the cabinet secretary.

At the cabinet meeting, several other tasks were addressed, including setting the salary of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners, approving measures to streamline certificate attestation procedures, and issuing strict directives for market monitoring.

Bangabandhu Peace Award policy
The cabinet secretary said achievements contributing to world peace, conflict resolution, human rights, hunger and poverty alleviation, and overall societal welfare through sustainable development will be considered for this award.

The peace award will be presented biennially, with nominations accepted from any country worldwide. Governments, heads of state, members of parliament, and Nobel or International Peace Prize laureates are eligible to nominate candidates for this award.

Besides, heads of foreign embassies and international organisations located in Bangladesh, heads of high commissions or embassies of Bangladesh posted abroad, and heads of any United Nations organisation can also propose names for the award. No individual can claim the prize himself.

According to the policy, a jury board consisting of impartial and distinguished individuals will be established and their decision will be conclusive.
The awardee’s name will be revealed on 17 March, Bangabandhu’s birthday and the award ceremony will take place on or around 23 May.

An 18-carat gold medal weighing 50 grams, along with an award and certificate valued at one lakh US dollars, will be presented. The inaugural award will be bestowed in 2025.
Govt fixes CEC, EC salaries

The salary of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners (allowances and special privileges) has been fixed by approving the draft of the “Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Allowances and Special Privileges) Act, 2024”.

According to an ordinance of 1983, the salaries and allowances of CECs and ECs were given. The laws enacted by the military regime are being changed on the orders of the High Court.
Certificate attestation complexity reduced

The cabinet approved Bangladesh’s accession to the Apostille Convention, 1961 to reduce the complexity of document attestation.

When going abroad, documents require verification, particularly educational certificates, which need attestation by the Ministry of Education and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Subsequently, embassy certification is needed for effectiveness in the destination country.

This process is complex, especially for countries without embassies in Bangladesh, necessitating travel to Delhi for attestation.

Membership in a convention could simplify this process, as verification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of member states would suffice, eliminating the need for embassy visits.
PM directs to monitor market closely

At the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu to rigorously monitor the market to curb artificial price increases and emphasized the importance of ensuring accurate market supply.

She added that despite the absence of crises, artificial price hikes on some products must be stopped.