13. (1) The Government shall, in consultation with the Board, set up an Advisory Council consisting of not more than twenty-five members representing the interests of growers, exporters, blenders, brokers, tea dealers in Bangladesh and representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, Finance, Industries, Agriculture (Agriculture Division), Land Administration, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (Land Administration and Land Reforms Division), Health, Population Control and Labour (Labour and Social Welfare Division) and such other persons as the Government may think fit to appoint for the purpose of advising the Board in respect of matters of national interest concerning the production, trade and development of tea and such other matters as may be referred to it by the Board or the Government. (2) The members of the Advisory Council shall be appointed for such period and on such terms and conditions as the Government may determine. (3) The Chairman, ex-officio, shall be the Chairman of the Advisory Council. (4) The Advisory Council shall regulate its own procedure and may act not- withstanding the temporary absence of any member or the existence of any vacancy among its members.