The council of advisers approved the decision in principle in its weekly meeting yesterday.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard is likely to be signed during the UAE labour minister's two-day visit to Bangladesh starting May 20, Press Secretary to the chief adviser (CA) Syed Fahim Munaim told the press after the meeting at the CA's office.

Even though half a million Bangladeshi workers are currently working in the UAE, Bangladesh does not have any official arrangement with the country regarding their safety, health and other facilities. The MoU will also take initiatives to explore new areas of cooperation and regulation on the matter, especially for creating more job opportunities for Bangladeshi workers.

Besides, the government also decided not to compensate landowners while acquiring land for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge if it is found that structures have been deliberately built on the land overnight for the specific purpose of receiving compensation.

The council approved the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project Land Acquisition Ordinance 2007 in this regard, where it states that the deputy commissioner (DC) will decide on the eligibility of receiving compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, 1982. Those notified for removing their illegal structures will be given a deadline of 24 hours.

The press secretary said that the decision has been taken following the experience during the land-acquisition drive for the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge, where many structures were set up overnight solely for getting compensation.

The meeting also approved in principle an Islamic University Second Amendment Ordinance, 2007 for assigning particular authorities for the 2006-2007 Fazil-Kamil examinations.

The examinations of the Fazil-Kamil students from the three-year session will be held under the Islamic University while the two-year session's students will sit for their exams under the Madrasa Education Board.