Staff Correspondent

Keeping provisions of tougher punishments for polluting environment, the Mongla Port Authority Bill-2021 was placed in parliament yesterday.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury placed the Bill which was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping for further scrutiny.

The parliamentary watchdog was asked to submit its report before the House within two months.

The Bill will replace the Chalna Port Authority Ordinance, 1976, which was promulgated during a military regime.

As per the proposal of the Bill, the punishment for damaging the environment by polluting water, land and coast will be raised to a one-year imprisonment or a fine of Tk 5 lakh or both.

The fine is Tk 50,000 in the existing law.

The Bill says if any individual or any ship throws or give permission to throw oil or oil-like material, waste, ash into water, beach, shore or land in the port area causing damage of water animals or pollution to water or environment, the person will be punished under the Environment Preservation Act, 1995.

According to a new provision of the proposed law, the punishment for dodging toll, fee and other charges of the port authority will be one-year jail or a fine of Tk 1 lakh or both.

If anyone violates the law, he will be sentenced to six month’s imprisonment or fined Tk 2 lakh or by both.