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.

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

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

Under the existing law, the punishment for the offence is six-month jail sentence and a fine of Tk 50,000.

Besides, some new terminologies like "inland water vessel", "terminal", "berth", "container freight station" and "lease" have been incorporated in the proposed Bill.

It stipulates that there will be a seven-member board to run the port. Under the existing ordinance, there are four members in the board.

The aims and objectives section of the proposed Bill says it will create momentum for the import and export of goods in the country's northern region and pave the way for generating revenue.