DHAKA, Oct 17, 2024 (BSS) - The interim government has announced the formation of four more new reform commissions on health, mass media, workers' rights and women affairs, and it is now at "almost final" stage.

National Professor Dr AK Azad Khan will lead the commission on health affairs while columnist Kamal Ahmed will head the commission on mass media.

Besides, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed will lead the commission on workers' rights while Naripokkho founder Shireen Huq will lead the commission on women affairs.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan shared the government decisions while briefing reporters at Foreign Service Academy this evening.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and CA's Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam were also present.

Rizwana said the four new commissions will have a full-fledged shape with members within the next 7-10 days.

About the expansion of the Council of Advisers, she said said the Chief Adviser knows it and the issue is entirely under his jurisdiction.

She, however, said as of now there has been no "conclusive" discussion that it will be expanded soon. "But that does not mean that it will not be expanded. It is entirely under his (CA) jurisdiction," the adviser said.

On minority issues, she said in this new Bangladesh there is no reason for anyone to feel unsafe. 

She said the government is in no way interfering in freedom of speech as part of their policy decision.

Rizwana said as much as they believe in freedom of expression, simultaneously they do not want to see any false propaganda on social media and suggested to avoid spreading any fake news or disinformation.

Reply to a question on Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan's issue, she said said so far she knows he himself said he is not coming on security and they do not have any information that anything from the government was officially conveyed.

Facing protest threats, Shakib cancelled his plan to return home to play a Test match in Dhaka, which he had said would be his final appearance in the longer format of cricket.

Shakib was expected to arrive in Dhaka from the USA, where his family resides, on Thursday night.

However, he decided to cancel due to protests in Mirpur, where the first Test of the two-match series between Bangladesh and South Africa is scheduled to be held on October 21.