The ‘Mongla Port Authority Bill, 2021’ has been placed in the Parliament with a provision for tougher punishment for polluting environment in the area of Mongla Port, the second largest seaport in the country.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury placed the bill in the current session of the Parliament on Saturday. The bill was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny. The parliamentary watchdog was asked to submit its report before the Parliament within two months.
After the passage of the bill, the Mongla Port Authority will get a full law as the bill will abolish the ‘Chalna Port Authority Ordinance, 1976’, which was promulgated during a military regime. Mongla, earlier known as Chalna, was renamed as Mongla in 1987. However, the Mongla Port has been running under the ordinance for about 45 years.
Mongla Port locates 48 km south of Khulna city. It has trade links with almost all major ports of the world. The port was developed initially about 18 km up at Chalna, which was opened to foreign vessels as an anchorage in 1950. The anchorage was shifted to Mongla in 1954. But, it had long retained its name Chalna.
As per the draft law, the punishment for harming environment by polluting water, land and coast in Mongla port area would be raised to a one-year imprisonment or a fine of Tk five 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, fees and other charges will be one-year jail or a fine of Tk one lakh, or both. If anyone violates the law, he/she will be sentenced to six months imprisonment or be fined Tk two lakh, or both. In the existing ordinance, the punishment is only six-month jail and a fine of Tk 50,000.
It was proposed in the bill that if necessary, the office of Mongla Port Authority can be set up anywhere in the country. The port authority can declare the restricted port area through a special order.
Besides, some new terminologies, including 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 Mongla port. The number of the board members is now four.
