DHAKA, Aug 2 (BSS)- The cabinet has given final approval to the draft of the Grameen Bank (amendment) Ordinance, 2012 to make easy the appointment of Managing Director (MD) of country's one of the main micro credit organizations.

The ordinance proposed amendment to Section-14 of the Grameen Bank Ordinance empowering the chairman of the bank to submit a panel of three members for appointment of an MD.

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

"In the amendment, the duty of the chairman of Grammen Bank with regard to appointment of MD of the bank has been specified," Cabinet Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said while briefing reporters after the meeting.

He said, the amendment proposed that chairman of the bank in consultation with the Grameen Bank Board would prepare a three-
member panel for consideration of the Bangladesh Bank for appointment of the Managing Director.

Persons having expertise in rural economy, finance particularly in the field of micro finance, can apply for the post of MD of the bank, he said adding the amendment would be effective through promulgation of an ordinance by the President shortly as the parliament is not in session.

Mosharraf Hossain said cabinet had a threadbare discussion on different issues of the Grameen Bank and asked the concerned
departments to submit reports to the cabinet on a number of
issues including the legality and amount Dr Yunus had taken from
the bank as salary and allowances following his retention to the
post of MD after 60 years of his age.

The cabinet also asked the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to give report to the cabinet about the total foreign exchange Dr Yunus brought in the country as a wage earner and how much tax he paid and how much tax he was given exemption as a wage earner.

The cabinet also asked the NBR to inform the cabinet whether Dr Yunus is eligible for the category of wage earner, the cabinet secretary added.

The cabinet also discussed the draft of 'Bangladesh Zoo Act- 2012' aimed at bringing the management and operation of all government and private zoos and wildlife sanctuaries under a legal framework.

The law is required for Bangladesh to become a member of World Association of Zoo and Aquarium (WAZA), cabinet secretary said.

The Cabinet asked the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry to revise the draft of the act in consultation with other related ministries and report back to the cabinet.