BANGLADESH

The cabinet on Monday approved a trust fund aiming at providing scholarships to students across the country.
Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the cabinet okayed the Prodhan Montri Shikhkha Sahayata Trust Fund, 2011 at a weekly meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, prime minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the fund will be handled under the education ministry.
He added that the PM made an announcement to create the trust fund last year and the money to finance it has been budgeted.
Anyone can donate money to the trust fund, said Kalam, adding that a tax waiver will be offered on the donated amount.
In another development, the cabinet rejected the amendment proposal of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Act, 1998.
The health ministry made the proposal of amending the act at the weekly meeting.

BMMSU authorities took the initiative to amend the act to introduce MBBS course in the university curriculum and their proposal was endorsed by the health ministry and proposed at the meeting.
But the PM rejected the proposal saying that the introduction of MBBS programme would hamper the research environment at the university, said the press secretary.