Dhaka, Sept 3 (UNB) - The cabinet on Monday approved the draft of the Grameen Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2012 to turn the existing ordinance into a law.

The approval was given at the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at the Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan briefed journalists.

Under the proposed amendment, he said, the chairman of Grameen Bank will constitute a selection committee to prepare a panel for the post of Managing Director of the bank in consultation with the board.

The board, with approval from Bangladesh Bank, will appoint a managing director from the panel.

Responding to a question, the cabinet secretary said the Finance Minister had apprised the cabinet about the progress of appointing an MD for the Grameen Bank.

The Cabinet also endorsed the draft of the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012 aiming to speed up the trial process of war criminals and crimes against humanity.

Under the amendment, the defense side will get the certified copy of the verdict on the same day free of cost and the time of filing an appeal has been reduced to 30 days from the existing 60 days to expedite the trial process.

The cabinet also gave nod to the proposal of establishing the ‘Small, Micro and Cottage Industry Foundation’ to run the activities of four completed poverty alleviation projects of BSCIC.

The draft of the Vested Property Return (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012 has been approved by the cabinet to turn the existing ordinance in this regard into a law.

The cabinet also endorsed the draft of Waqf (Property Handover and Development) Special Regulations Bill, 2012, incorporating some provisions to accelerate the handover and development of assets of the Waqf.

Replying to a question, the Cabinet Secretary said there was no discussion on Hallmarks group and Padma Bridge issues at the meeting.

The cabinet members, advisers to the Prime Minister and state ministers and secretaries concerned were present.