Only 4 out of 31 RRC proposals

Only four of the 31 recommendations so far made by Regulatory Reform Commission in last eight months were implemented, rerunning the history of scores of such proposals going unheeded in the past. Two other recommendations were partially executed, while little or no progress has been made on the rest 25, commission sources said. Whatever implemented, those touched upon the peripheral details, leaving the bureaucracy as cumbersome and time-consuming as in the past, reveals an analysis of the commission’s progress report. The commission, set up on October 30, 2007 to suggest ways to ease the country’s regulatory regime blamed for hindering the private sector growth, made its recommendation in phases up to April 22. The first batch of recommendations, dealing with people’s access to government rules, came after its first meeting held on November 19, 2007. Those include publication of gazettes on the official sites, posting draft rules and regulations on the government website for public opinion before sending those to the cabinet. The commission also suggested amendment to the rules of business to implement the recommendations. In response, the government started publishing the new gazettes from February 21, while the establishment is yet to develop a full-fledged website incorporating previous gazettes. The drafts on laws regarding gazette publication and amendment to rules of business are now awaiting the chief adviser’s approval. In the second meeting on January 8, the commission recommended online registration with Board of Investment, uniform fees or charges for registration of investment projects and reforms in BoI to make it dynamic. A consultant has been appointed for implementation of online registration and BoI discussed the issue of uniform fees. In the third meeting held on January 22, the commission proposed that Bangladesh Bank should alone take decision regarding foreign private loans and that any proposal for such loans can be sent through any scheduled bank. The central bank has to inform the BoI of the time for processing loan applications and post its check-list and application procedure on website. The commission suggested amendments to the Post office Act, 1898 to give legal coverage to courier service and change the process of land registration. The government has prepared a draft amendment to the Post Office Act, but legal complications held back the progress on reforming land registration process. In the fourth meeting held on February 12, it was proposed that authorities should reduce the time of giving location clearance and environment clearance certificates. The recommendations are fully implemented and on May 22, statutory regulatory order was issued in this regard. The commission had its fifth meeting on March 18 and put forward recommendations on duty drawback and exemption system, easing capital machinery import clearance process and bonded warehouse licensing process. The government has already implemented the recommendation regarding bonded warehouse licensing process. In the sixth meeting held on April 22, the commission recommended that hotel and restaurant ordinance 1982 should be amended to support the growth of hospitality business in the private sector. The chief adviser’s office sent a proposal to the civil aviation and tourism ministry for necessary action in this regard. Almost all the governments since the country’s independence formed administrative reform commissions, which came up with dozens of proposals. But very few of them were heeded. The last one submitted its recommendations at the fag end of the Awami League regime (1996-2001). Apart from administrative commissions, pay commissions and several other committees also put forward proposals for making the bureaucracy less troubling for the people.