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.

The proposed Bill seeks to increase the punishment for damaging the environment by polluting water, land and coast to one year’s imprisonment or a fine of Tk 5 lakh or both. The fine is now Tk 50,000.

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