Dhaka: The cabinet on Monday approved the draft speech of President Abdul Hamid to be delivered at the inaugural session of the 11th Parliament, which will begin on January 30 next.

The approval came at the first cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office, reports the UNB.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters at the conference room of the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat.

The full speech, having some 75,000 words, will be placed in the House at the maiden session of the new parliament, he said.

But the President will read out the short version of his written speech having 6,000 words in Parliament.

The speech will focus on the country’s overall scenario, including economic development and activities, the government’s measures taken to establish good governance, the activities taken for implementing the Vision 2021 and the Vision 2041, and the government’s measures and successes in improvement of the country’s socio-economic status, said the Cabinet Secretary.

Besides, the Cabinet gave the final approval to the drafts of three bills—the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the National Social Welfare Association Bill, 2018 and the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Land Acquisition) Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

The Cabinet also cleared a proposal for the reconstitution of the Cabinet committee to examine the 9th Wage Board Award for journalists.

The Cabinet committee was reconstituted increasing the number of its members at seven from five ones, Shafiul Alam said.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will lead the committee as its convenor.

Besides, the Cabinet cleared the draft of the National Action Plan on Disability.