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The government has decided to withdraw the 7.5 percent value-added tax (VAT) on the import of oceangoing vessels with capacities above 5,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT). The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council of Advisers on Thursday, with officials saying the move is expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s sea trade.

At the same meeting, the council reviewed the implementation of reform proposals across various sectors. So far, 51 recommendations of the Reform Commission have been carried out, with further measures in progress.

The Labour Ministry reported that amendments aligned with 82 recommendations of the Labour Reform Commission would enable most reforms to be implemented automatically. “Some reforms are already underway, while political ones will have to wait for an elected government,” an official said.

Local government decentralisation was a key point of discussion, with the Chief Adviser stressing the need for institutions to raise their own funds. The council also directed the Ministry of Law to move ahead with police reforms, including the creation of an independent investigation service and an internal complaints commission to handle allegations against police officers.

Other issues came up as well. The peaceful Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election was acknowledged, while updates were given on the safe return of Bangladeshi nationals from Nepal following airport disruptions. The meeting also addressed shortages of qualified teachers in medical colleges, with proposals to re-engage retired faculty to fill critical gaps.