The Advisory Council has approved proposals to amend to two key laws concerning the Election Commission, aiming to streamline electoral preparations and enhance official accountability ahead of the upcoming national polls.
The decisions were made during a council meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at his office at Tejgaon in Dhaka on Thursday. Additionally, proposals to amend several revenue-related laws under the National Board of Revenue (NBR) received final approval during the session.
After the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
Shafiqul Alam confirmed the council’s endorsement of the amended Election Officer (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 and the Election Commission Secretariat Act, 2009.
“These amendments will help accelerate the Election Commission’s work ahead of the national election by enabling faster administrative action,” Shafiqul said.
He noted that the revisions introduce clear accountability mechanisms, allowing for action against election officials in cases of negligence — a provision that had previously lacked clarity.
In addition to electoral reforms, the council also passed the Financial Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, formulated under the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
Among the notable changes are adjustments to Value-Added Tax (VAT) and income tax structures, including an increase in VAT on institutional treasury bonds, a move likely aimed at boosting revenue collection.
The council also reviewed progress on broader government reform initiatives. According to Shafiqul, out of 121 reforms identified in the first phase, 24 have been fully implemented, 14 partially completed, while the rest are in progress.
He added that ministries have been directed to report reforms undertaken beyond the recommendations of the government’s reform commission. “In many cases, ministries have gone further than what was originally advised,” he said.
The government intends to compile and publish a booklet highlighting these additional reforms, as part of its effort to showcase institutional improvements made under the interim government.
