The Council of Advisers on Thursday approved guidelines on National Essential Drugs List and drug pricing, along with drafts of several major ordinances and policy documents covering personal data protection, culture, forest industry reform, climate action and judicial administration.

The decisions were taken at the council’s weekly meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his office in Tejgaon area of the capital.

Briefing the media later at Foreign Service Academy, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the meeting gave final approval to the draft Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, and the Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance 2026.

He said the draft Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026 received in-principle approval, while the Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) was granted retrospective approval.

The council also approved guidelines related to the National Essential Drugs List and the pricing of essential medicines, aimed at improving access and affordability.

Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, also addressed the briefing.

Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder was present during the media interaction.