The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Religious Affairs Tuesday recommended taking up rooftop solar power projects at mosques and formulating a policy on electricity use by mosques across the country.
The recommendations came at the first meeting of the committee of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, held at the Parliament complex with committee chairman Rafiqul Islam Jamal in the chair.
The committee also recommended formulating a policy on people who go on Hajj at government expense.
It further called for the quick transfer of doctors and other officials and employees who have long been working at the same hospitals and missions under the Islamic Foundation, to ensure better public service.
The meeting began with recitation from the Holy Quran, after which officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Parliament Secretariat introduced themselves to the committee members.
Through PowerPoint presentations, the committee was briefed on the activities of the ministry and its subordinate offices and agencies. These covered Hajj management, the Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh Waqf Administration, and the Hindu, Buddhist and Christian religious welfare trusts.
The presentations also detailed progress on the ministry's 180-day action plan, along with manpower, budget, the vision and mission of its offices and agencies, their functions and notable achievements.
The committee was also briefed on implementation of the government's election manifesto and the future plans of the ministry and its subordinate bodies.
Committee members and officials concerned attended the meeting.