B Mirror Report : The Council of Advisers, in its weekly meeting today, approved several important policy measures and draft ordinances, including guidelines on the National Essential Drugs list and pricing, as well as drafts covering personal data protection, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, forest industry reform, climate action commitments, and judicial administration.
The ordinances approved include:
- Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026
- Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (Amendment) Ordinance 2026
- Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026
- Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0)
- Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance 2026
The meeting was chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his office in Tejgaon this morning. Later, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy.
According to the press secretary, the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, and Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 received final approval, while the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026 was approved in principle. The Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) received retrospective approval.
Personal Data Protection Amendment
Shafiqul Alam noted that revisions were made to address concerns raised by global technology companies such as Meta (Facebook) and Google. Earlier requirements mandating all data to be stored within Bangladesh have been withdrawn, and local storage now applies only to Critical Information Infrastructure (CII). Criminal penalties for corporate violations have been replaced with financial penalties, aiming to make Bangladesh more attractive for foreign investment in cloud services and data-driven industries.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Amendment
The amendment significantly expands the Academy’s institutional structure, increasing the number of departments to nine, including Administration and Finance, Theatre, Film, Photography, Dance and Performance Art, Music, Fine Arts, Research, Publications and New Media, and Cultural Branding, Festivals and Productions. A new provision allows the government to nominate representatives from ethnic minority groups to the Academy’s board, promoting cultural diversity and inclusion.
Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026
The ordinance replaces the outdated 1959 law and introduces a modern, integrated framework emphasizing environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable forest resource use. The corporation can now establish showrooms nationwide, diversify products beyond raw materials, and enter into joint ventures, while maintaining environmental safeguards.
Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0)
The Council gave retrospective approval to NDC 3.0, aligning with Bangladesh’s commitments under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. The plan targets a reduction of 84.97 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions by 2035, aiming to curb projected emissions growth from 202.04 million tonnes in 2022 to 418.40 million tonnes by 2035.
Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, also spoke at the briefing. Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder was present.
The Council of Advisers’ decisions mark a significant step toward modernizing legislation, strengthening cultural institutions, promoting environmental sustainability, safeguarding personal data, and fulfilling climate commitments.
