A bill titled “Chattagram Port Authority-2021” was placed in parliament yesterday keeping provision of maximum three years of rigorous imprisonment and Tk 3 lakh fine for polluting in the Chattogram Port area.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury placed the bill in the House which was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny.

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The parliamentary watchdog has been asked to submit its report before the House within 50 working days.

The bill was also placed to abolish the Chittagong Port Authority Ordinance-1976 as it was promulgated during a military regime.

For polluting, only Tk one lakh is the maximum fine in the existing law, but the proposed law has included punishment in line with the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, the state minster told the House.

The draft law also said if any rule under the law is breached, where punishment is not stated in the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, the fine will be six months of imprisonment or Tk two lakh as fine or both.

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

For fees and toll, the authority will prepare a chart and take permission from the government. But for below Tk 5,000, it will not need to take permission.

The proposed law also recommended creating a fund for the development of the port.

As per the bill, there will be a chairman and a seven-member board. In the existing law, the number of members is four. The board will hold at least one meeting in every two months.  



Polluting CTG Port: Bill in House seeking stern punishment
Source: Trend Viral Philippines