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

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.

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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 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 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 four in the existing ordinance.

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

A provision was kept in the bill to preserve the work done in good faith.

It states that no civil or criminal case may be instituted against the authority, or its chairman, any member, officer or employee, or any other legal action cannot be taken if any person is harmed or is likely to be harmed as a result of any act done in good faith under this Act.