Mongla Port Authority Bill proposes tougher punishment for polluting environment

The bill will abolish the Chalna Port Authority Ordinance 1976 as it was promulgated during a military regime

The “Mongla Port Authority Bill, 2021” was placed in parliament on Saturday with a provision for tougher punishment for polluting the environment.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury placed the bill and it was sent to the respective standing committee for further scrutiny. The committee was asked to submit its report within two months.

The bill will abolish the Chalna Port Authority Ordinance 1976 as it was promulgated during a military regime.

As per the bill, the punishment for harming the environment by polluting water, land, and coast has been raised to one-year imprisonment or a fine of Tk5 lakh or both. The fine is Tk50,000 in the existing ordinance.

According to a new provision incorporated in the bill, the punishment for dodging toll, fee, and other charges of the port will invite a one-year jail term or a fine of Tk1 lakh or both.

If anyone defies the law, he will be sentenced to six months in jail or be fined Tk 2 lakh or by both. The punishment is only a six-month jail and a fine of Tk50,000 in the existing ordinance.

Besides, some new terminologies like “inland water vessel,” “terminal,” ‘berth’, container freight station, and “lease” have been incorporated in the bill.

According to the bill, there will be a seven-member board to run the port. The number of the board members is now four in the existing ordinance.

The port authority can declare the restricted port area through a special order.