The cabinet yesterday approved the draft of "The National Film Policy 2017" which suggested a ban on rape scene and anti-state statements in films.

The approval came at the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the draft policy would also encourage the people in resisting religious extremism.

A 15-member advisory committee to be headed by the information minister would advise the people concerned on filmmaking in the light of the policy.

As per the draft policy, legal actions would be taken on the charge of preserving "intellectual rights" and "copyrights", said the cabinet secretary.

The cabinet also approved the draft of an agreement between Bangladesh and India for "The Regulation of Motor Vehicle Passenger Traffic" and the draft of "The Protocol on Operation of Passenger Bus Service" between Dhaka and Kolkata via Khulna in terms of the agreement.

The cabinet adopted a thanksgiving motion congratulating Saima Wazed Hossain, chairperson of Bangladesh National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and daughter of the PM for becoming the WHO champion for creating awareness and actions to address the sufferings of autistic children as well as their parents and caregivers in South-East Asia Region.

It also endorsed a proposal for declaration of National Public Service Day on July 23.