Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Act, 2014 (Law No. 8 of 2014)

CHT Devel opment Boar d Act , 2014 ( Law No. 8 of 2014) [ Jul y 8, 2014] Laws made f or t he r ehabi l i t at i on of t he Chi t t agong Hi l l Tr act s Devel opment Boar d Or di nance, 1976, i ncl udi ng r evi si on Wher eas i t i s expedi ent and necessar y t o r eval i dat e t he r evi si on of t he Chi t t agong Hi l l Tr act s Devel opment Boar d Or di nance, 1976 ( Or di nance No. LXXVI I of 1976) ; I t i s her eby enact ed as f ol l ows: Shor t t i t l e, appl i cat i on and i nt r oduct i o n 1. ( 1) Thi s Act shal l be cal l ed t he Chi t t agong Hi l l Tr act s Devel opment Boar d Act , 2014. ( 2) I t wi l l be appl i cabl e t o t he Hi l l Di st r i ct s. ( 3) I t shal l be ef f ect i ve i mmedi at el y. Def i ni t i on 2. I n t hi s Act , unl ess t her e i s anyt hi ng r epugnant i n t he subj ect or cont ext ( 1) " Chai r man" means t he Chai r man of t he Boar d; ( 2) " f und" means f und of Chi t t agong Hi l l Tr act s Devel opment Boar d r ef er r ed t o i n sect i on 13; ( 3) " Boar d of Di r ect or s" means t he Boar d of Di r ect or s const i t ut ed under sect i on 8; ( 4) " Chi t t agong Chi t t agong Regi onal Counci l " means t he Chi t t agong Hi l l Tr act s Regi onal Counci l est abl i shed under t he Chi t t agong Hi l l Tr act s Regi onal Counci l Act , 1998 ( Act XI I of 1998) ; ( 5) " Hi l l Di st r i ct " means Rangamat i , Khagr achar i and Bandar ban Hi l l di st r i ct s; ( 6) " r egul at i ons" means r egul at i ons made under t hi s Act ; ( 7) " Rul e" means t he r ul es made under t hi s Act ; ( 8) " Boar d" means t he Chi t t agong Hi l l Devel opment Boar d est abl i shed under sect i on 3; ( 9) " Vi ce- Chai r man" means t he Vi ce- Chai r man of t he Boar d; ( 10) " Member " means any member of t he Boar d; ( 11) " Ci r cl e Chi ef " means Chakma, Bomang and Mong Ci r cl e Chi ef of t he Hi l l Di st r i ct . Est abl i shme nt of t he boar d 3. ( 1) I n addi t i on t o t he i mpl ement at i on of t hi s Act , a Boar d cal l ed t he Chi t t agong Devel opment Boar d wi l l be est abl i shed f or t he pur pose of t hi s Act . ( 2) The Boar d shal l be a st at ut or y body and i t s per manent cont i nui t y and a gener al seal and shal l have t he power t o acqui r e, possess, and t r ansf er bot h movabl e and i mmovabl e pr oper t y, and may f i l e a sui t i n i t s name and pr osecut e agai nst i t . Boar d of f i ce 4. The head of f i ce of t he Boar d shal l be l ocat ed i n Rangamat i and t he Boar d may, by t he pr i or appr oval of t he Gover nment , est abl i sh i t s br anches i n Khagr achar i and Bandar ban di st r i ct s. Gener al management and admi ni st r at i on 5. The gener al management and admi ni st r at i on of t he Boar d shal l be ent r ust ed t o t he Boar d of Di r ect or s and t he Boar d may exer ci se al l such power s and per f or m such f unct i ons as t he Boar d may exer ci se al l power s and per f or m t he f unct i ons. Chai r man, Vi ce Chai r man and Member 6. ( 1) Ther e wi l l be a Chai r man of t he Boar d, a Vi ce- Chai r man and f our Member s. ( 2) The Chai r man, Vi ce- Chai r man and Member s shal l be appoi nt ed by t he Gover nment and t he t er ms and condi t i ons of t hei r empl oyment shal l be deci ded by t he Gover nment : Pr ovi ded t hat i n t he case of appoi nt ment of Chai r man, t he Gover nment shal l gi ve pr i or i t y t o t he t r i bal peopl e: Pr ovi ded f ur t her t hat t he Vi ce Chai r man of t he Gover nment , Secr et ar y and Member s shal l be t he Deput y Secr et ar y of t he Gover nment . ( 3) Chai r man, Vi ce- Chai r man and Member s shal l be t he f ul l - t i me of f i cer s of t he Boar d. ( 4) The chai r man shal l be t he chi ef execut i ve of t he boar d. ( 5) I f t he Chai r man' s vacancy i s vacant or i f t he chai r man i s unabl e t o f ul f i l l hi s dut i es f or absence, i l l ness or any ot her r eason, t he newl y appoi nt ed chai r man wi l l not be abl e t o per f or m hi s dut i es unl ess he j oi ns hi s of f i ce or unt i l t he chai r man i s abl e t o car r y out hi s dut i es. I ncompet enc e, r emoval and r esi gnat i on of Chai r man, Vi ce Chai r man and Member s 7. ( 1) No per son shal l be el i gi bl e t o be Chai r man, Vi ce- Chai r man and a member , i f he i s ( a) Somet i mes di smi ssed f r om gover nment ser vi ce or di smi ssed f r om publ i c ser vi ce; ( B) gui l t y of mor al t ur pi t ude; ( C) decl ar ed by a compet ent cour t t o be unr eachabl e; Or ( d) i s decl ar ed bankr upt by a compet ent cour t . ( 2) Not wi t hst andi ng t he pr ovi si ons of sub sect i on ( 1) , t he Gover nment may r emove t he Chai r man, Vi ce- Chai r man and member s at any t i me t hr ough wr i t t en or der f or any of t he f ol l owi ng r easons, i f he ( A) f ai l s t o per f or m dut i es assi gned t o hi m under t hi s Act Or deny or di sagr ee wi t h t he gover nment ; Or ( b) mi suse hi s posi t i on as chai r man i n t he consi der at i on of t he gover nment . ( 3) The chai r man, vi ce- chai r man and member can l eave hi s post i n t he l et t er si gned wi t h t he gover nment f or t he expi r y of hi s expi r y. For mat i on of t he management boar d 8. The Boar d of Di r ect or s shal l consi st of t he f ol l owi ng member s, namel y: ( a) t he Chai r man, who shal l al so be i t s Pr esi dent ; ( B) Vi ce- Chai r man, who shal l al so be i t s Vi ce Pr esi dent ; ( C) one r epr esent at i ve of t he Chi t t agong Regi onal Counci l nomi nat ed; ( D) Di st r i ct admi ni st r at or of Rangamat i , Bandar ban and Khagr achar i t hana di st r i ct s, ex of f i ci o; ( E) An of f i cer of t he r ank of deput y secr et ar y t o be nomi nat ed by t he Chi t t agong Mi ni st r y of Tour i sm; ( F) One of t he nomi nat ed r epr esent at i ves of Rangamat i , Bandar ban and Khagr achar i di st r i ct counci l s; ( G) Four member s of t he Boar d, among whom t he one nomi nat ed by t he Boar d shal l ser ve as i t s member - secr et ar y. Boar d f unct i ons, et c. 9. ( 1) The f unct i ons of t he Boar d shal l be as f ol l ows: ( a) Consi der i ng t he popul at i on, si ze and backwar dness of t he post al di st r i ct , pr epar at i on of schemes and schemes f or t he devel opment of l at er di st r i ct s; ( B) Appr oval of schemes and schemes not exceedi ng 2 ( 2) cr or e f or t he upazi l a headquar t er s, uni on and r ur al ar eas of t he di st r i ct ; ( C) t o moni t or t he i mpl ement at i on and i mpl ement at i on of appr oved pr oj ect s and schemes; ( D) i mpl ement at i on of devel opment pr oj ect s and schemes i mpl ement ed by f i nanci al or t echni cal assi st ance of di f f er ent devel opment or gani zat i ons; ( E) To per f or m t he above- ment i oned act i vi t i es, per f or m ot her r el at ed or r el at ed t asks wi t h t hem. ( 2) The Boar d wi l l per f or m i t s dut i es under t he over al l super vi si on of Chi t t agong Ci t y Regi onal Counci l . Boar d of Di r ect or s 10. ( 1) Subj ect t o t he ot her pr ovi si ons of t hi s sect i on, t he Boar d of Di r ect or s shal l det er mi ne t he pr ocedur e f or i t s meet i ngs. ( 2) The meet i ng of t he Boar d of Di r ect or s shal l be hel d i n t he dat e, t i me and pl ace, pr escr i bed by t he Pr esi dent . ( 3) At l east one meet i ng of t he Boar d of Di r ect or s shal l be hel d ever y 3 ( t hr ee) mont hs. ( 4) The Pr esi dent shal l pr esi de over al l t he meet i ngs of t he Boar d of Di r ect or s and i n hi s absence, t he Vi ce Pr esi dent shal l pr esi de over t he meet i ng. ( 5) I n t he pr esence of not l ess t han ei ght ( ei ght ) member s, quor um of t he Boar d of Di r ect or s shal l be f or med. ( 6) The deci si on t aken i n t he meet i ng of t he Boar d of Di r ect or s by t he maj or i t y of t he pr esent member s and t he per son pr esi di ng i n t he case of equal i t y of vot es, has t he power t o gi ve a second or cast i ng vot e. ( 7) No act i on or pr oceedi ng of t he Boar d of Di r ect or s shal l be i nval i d, or any quest i on may be r ai sed i n r el at i on t o t he absence of vacancy i n t he member shi p of any member or due t o t he def ect i n t he f or mat i on of t he Boar d of Di r ect or s. Consul t ant Commi t t ee 11. ( 1) A consul t ant commi t t ee of t he Boar d shal l consi st of t he f ol l owi ng member s, namel y: ( a) t he Chai r man, who shal l al so be i t s Pr esi dent ; ( B) Thr ee Ci r cl e Chi ef or t hei r nomi nat ed r epr esent at i ve; ( C) Chai r man of one upazi l a counci l f r om t he di st r i ct nomi nat ed by t he gover nment ; ( D) Chai r man of t he Uni on Par i shad, one f r om t he di st r i ct nomi nat ed by t he Gover nment ; ( E) nomi nat ed by t he gover nment , on consul t at i on wi t h t he Ci r cl e Chi ef , headman one f r om t he post er i t y di st r i ct ; ( F) 3 ( t hr ee) member s of t he publ i c or non gover nment or gani zat i on nomi nat ed by t he Chai r man, by t he pr evi ous sanct i on of t he gover nment , f r om t he di st r i ct . ( 2) The nomi nat ed member s under t he cl ause ( c) , ( d) , ( e) and ( f ) of sub- sect i on ( 1) shal l r emai n i n t he member shi p of t he Boar d f or a per i od det er mi ned by t he Boar d. ( 3) The member s r ef er r ed t o i n sub- sect i on ( 1) shal l be ent i t l ed t o t r avel al l owance at t he r at e pr escr i bed by t he Boar d f or t he meet i ng. ( 4) The Boar d of Di r ect or s wi l l det er mi ne t he pr ocedur e pr ocedur e of t he commi t t ee. ( 5) The Consul t at i ve Commi t t ee shal l pr epar e t he scheme and t he scheme and advi se t he Boar d i n i t s i mpl ement at i on. I mpl ement at i on of pr oj ect s or schemes t hr ough ot her agenci es 12. ( 1) Not wi t hst andi ng anyt hi ng cont ai ned i n any ot her l aw f or t he t i me bei ng i n f or ce or under sect i on 9 of t hi s Act , i f any pr oj ect or scheme appr oved under t hi s sect i on or any par t t her eof i s i n t he j ur i sdi ct i on of any l ocal aut hor i t y or gover nment agency, wi t h t he advi ce of t he Boar d, t he concer ned aut hor i t i es or agenci es , May t ake appr opr i at e act i on f or t he i mpl ement at i on of such pr oj ect or scheme or i t s par t and t ake such act i on. Set r e byayi t abya book compl y wi t h t he Boar d and shal l bear as a l ocal aut hor i t y or gover nment agency. ( 2) I f t her e i s a di sagr eement about t he expendi t ur e i ncur r ed f or t he i mpl ement at i on of a scheme or scheme under sub- sect i on ( 1) , i t shal l be di sposed by t he gover nment and i n t hi s case t he deci si on of t he gover nment shal l be f i nal . Fund 13. ( 1) For t he pur pose of t hi s Act , t her e wi l l be a f und named as t he Hi l l Tr ust Devel opment Boar d Fund and t he f ol l owi ng money wi l l be deposi t ed t her ei n, namel y: - ( a) t he non- l apsabl e r evol vi ng f und pr ovi ded by t he gover nment , whi ch i s 3 ( t hr ee) bi l l i on No mor e t han money; ( B) l oans or gr ant s r ecei ved by t he Boar d i n accor dance wi t h t he appr oval of t he Gover nment ; ( C) The money r ecei ved f r om any ot her sour ce. ( 2) The f unds shal l be deposi t ed i n any schedul ed bank: Pr ovi ded t hat i f t her e i s no schedul ed bank, t he f unds of t he bank can be deposi t ed i n any commer ci al bank appr oved by t he Bangl adesh Bank. ( 3) Fr om t he f und, ot her payment s wi l l be made i n accor dance wi t h t he sal ar y, al l owances and condi t i ons of empl oyment of t he chai r man, vi ce- chai r man, member , boar d of f i ci al s and empl oyees, and ot her necessar y expenses of t he Boar d wi l l be execut ed. Accessi bi l i t y 14. ( 1) Any per son empower ed i n t hi s behal f by t he Chai r man, Vi ce- Chai r man or t he Member or t he Chai r man, may ent er any l and of t he di st r i ct under any of t he f ol l owi ng f or t he publ i c i nt er est , namel y: ( a) any i nqui r y, sur vey, exami nat i on, eval uat i on or i nvest i gat i on; ( B) t aki ng t he gr ound l evel ; ( C) excavat i on or dr i l l i ng of l ow l evel soi l ; ( D) Det er mi nat i on of t he boundar y of t he wor k hour s; ( E) I dent i f yi ng t he l evel , boundar y and boundar y of cut t i ng or mar ki ng t he mar k; Or ( f ) any wor k car r i ed out f or t he pur pose of t hi s Act . ( 2) The owner or occupi er of t he concer ned l and shal l not be ent er ed under sub- sect i on ( 1) wi t hout gi vi ng not i ce bef or e 24 ( t went y f our ) hour s pr i or t o t he pur pose of ent er i ng t he l and. ( 3) I f t her e i s any damage t o t he l and due t o any wor k under sub- sect i on ( 1) , t he Boar d shal l pay compensat i on. Land acqui si t i on 15. ( 1) For car r yi ng out t he pur poses of t hi s Act , i f any l and i s needed f or t he pur pose of per f or mi ng t he f unct i ons of t he Boar d, i t shal l be deemed necessar y f or publ i c i nt er est and t he Boar d shal l accept t he appr oval of t he concer ned di st r i ct counci l f or t he acqui si t i on of t hat l and; Then t he Gover nment may acqui r e t he l and under Acqusi t i on and Requi si t i on of I mmovabl e Pr oper t y Or di nance, 1982 ( Or di nance No. I I of 1982) . ( 2) The pr ovi si ons of t he or di nance ment i oned i n sub- sect i on ( 1) shal l appl y t o t he compensat i on of l and acqui r ed under sub sect i on ( 1) and f or di sposal of any such mat t er s. Power t o bor r ow 16. For car r yi ng out t he pur poses of t hi s Act , t he Boar d may, by t he pr evi ous sanct i on of t he gover nment , t ake t he l oan, i f necessar y. Recr ui t ment of empl oyees and empl oyees of t he boar d, et c. 17. ( 1) The Boar d may appoi nt necessar y number of of f i cer s and empl oyees, i n r el at i on t o t he or gani zat i onal st r uct ur e appr oved by t he gover nment , f or t he pur pose of per f or mi ng i t s f unct i ons pr oper l y. ( 2) The t er ms and condi t i ons of appoi nt ment and empl oyment of t he of f i cer s and empl oyees of t he Boar d shal l be det er mi ned by r egul at i ons. Budget 18. The Boar d shal l submi t t o t he Gover nment ever y year t he annual budget st at ement of t he f i nanci al year af t er t he per i od f i xed by t he Gover nment and t he amount of money wi l l be r equi r ed f r om t he Gover nment f or t hat f i scal year . Account i ng and audi t i ng 19. ( 1) The Boar d shal l mai nt ai n i t s account s i n t he pr ocedur e and f or m pr escr i bed by t he Regul at i on and pr epar e t he annual st at ement of account s. ( 2) The Bangl adesh Audi t or - Gener al and Regul at or , t hen cal l ed t he Audi t Audi t or , wi l l audi t t he account s of t he Boar d ever y year and submi t a copy of t he audi t r epor t t o t he gover nment and t he boar d. ( 3) For t he pur pose of audi t i ng t he account s i n accor dance wi t h t he pr ovi si ons of sub sect i on ( 2) , t he Super - Audi t or or any per son empower ed by hi m may exami ne al l t he r ecor ds, document s- document s, cash or bank deposi t ed money, deposi t s, r eposi t or i es and ot her pr oper t y of t he Boar d and Chai r man, Vi ce Chai r man, Member , Boar d Of f i cer and empl oyee may i nt er r ogat e. ( 4) I n addi t i on t o t he audi t under sub- sect i on ( 2) , t he char t er ed account ant def i ned i n Ar t i cl e 2 ( 1) ( b) of t he Bangl adesh Char t er ed Account ant s Or der , 1973 ( Pono 2 of 1973) , t he account s of t he Boar d may be audi t ed and t he Boar d You can appoi nt one or mor e char t er ed account ant s. Repor t 20. ( 1) The Boar d shal l submi t an annual r epor t t o t he gover nment i n t he next 90 ( ni net y) days af t er t he compl et i on of ever y meani ng of t he sai d year . ( 2) The Gover nment may, at any t i me, cal l t he r epor t and st at ement on any mat t er of t he Boar d f r om t he Boar d as r equi r ed, and t he Boar d shal l be bound t o suppl y i t t o t he Gover nment . I nst r uct i on al power 21. For t he pur pose of t hi s Act , t he Gover nment may, f r om t i me t o t i me, make necessar y i nst r uct i ons t o t he Boar d of Di r ect or s and t he Boar d of Gover nor s shal l be bound t o compl y. Power t o make r ul es 22. For t he pur pose of t hi s Act , t he Gover nment may, by not i f i cat i on i n t he of f i ci al Gazet t e, make r ul es. The abi l i t y t o make r egul at i ons 23. For t he pur pose of t hi s Act , t he Boar d may, by t he pr i or appr oval of t he Gover nment , by not i f i cat i on i n t he of f i ci al Gazet t e, make such r egul at i ons not i nconsi st ent wi t h t hi s Act or t he r ul es. Tr ansl at ed t ext s i n Engl i sh 24 ( 1) Af t er t he i mpl ement at i on of t hi s Act , t he Gover nment shal l publ i sh a aut hent i c Engl i sh Text t r ansl at ed i nt o Engl i sh by t he Gover nment Gazet t e, by not i f i cat i on i n t hi s Act . ( 2) I n t he case of conf l i ct bet ween Bengal i and Engl i sh l essons t he Bengal i t ext wi l l pr evai l . Repeal and Hef azat 25. ( 1) ( Chi t t agong Hill Tracts Developmemt Board O rdinance, 1976 ( Ordinance, No. LXXVI I of 1976) , her ei naf t er r ef er r ed t o as the said Ordinance, ( 2) Despi t e t he r epeal under sub- sect i on ( 1) ( A) The Boar d const i t ut ed under t hi s Or di nance shal l be deemed t o be t he Boar d of Di r ect or s const i t ut ed under t hi s Or di nance unt i l t he Boar d of Di r ect or s i s const i t ut ed under t hi s Act ; ( b) any or der or r ul e made under t hi s Or di nance, any r ul e or r egul at i on made, any or der i ssued, Not i f i cat i on or ci r cul ar No, any not i ce gi ven, pr epar ed, budget est i mat i on, scheme or pr oj ect shal l be deemed t o have been made, r ecei ved, i ssued or made under t hi s Act . ( 3) Wi t h t he r epeal of t he sai d Or di nance, t he boar d of t he Boar d est abl i shed under t hi s Or di nance, ( A) Al l asset s, r i ght s, power s, aut hor i t y, benef i t s and al l movabl e and i mmovabl e pr oper t y, cash and money deposi t ed i n t he bank, al l ot her cl ai ms and r i ght s, al l account s, r ecor ds, r ecor ds and ot her document s wi l l be handed over t o t he Boar d and ent r ust ed t o i t . ; ( B) Al l debt s, l i abi l i t i es and obl i gat i ons, and by i t , al l agr eement s wi t h or on behal f of i t , shal l be deemed t o be t he cont r act of t he Boar d, l i abi l i t y and r esponsi bi l i t y, and by i t , on i t s behal f or wi t h i t s agr eement ; ( C) t he case or t he l egal pr oceedi ngs f i l ed agai nst or agai nst i t shal l be deemed t o be agai nst a Boar d or a case f i l ed by t he Boar d or a l egal pr oceedi ng; ( D) Al l of f i cer s and empl oyees shal l be deemed t o be t he of f i cer s and empl oyees of t he Boar d, and i mmedi at el y bef or e t he commencement of t hi s Act , t hey wi l l be empl oyed i n al l condi t i ons on t he condi t i on t hat t hey ar e empl oyed, unl ess t he condi t i ons of t hei r ser vi ce change by t he Boar d. 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