JS passes ‘Mongla Port Authority Bill’

The ‘Mongla Port Authority Bill, 2022’ was passed in Parliament on Monday keeping provision for harsher punishment for polluting the environment, reports BSS.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote.

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 Tk 5 lakh or both. The fine is Tk 50,000 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 Tk 1 lakh or both.

If anyone defies the law, he will be sentenced to six months in jail or be fined Tk 2 lakh or both. The punishment is only a six-month jail and a fine of Tk 50,000 in the existing ordinance.

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

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

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