The Mongla Port Authority Bill-2021 was passed in parliament with provisions for harsher penalties for harming the environment. The measure will repeal the Chalna Port Authority Ordinance of 1976, which was enacted during a military dictatorship. 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 marine life or pollution to water or environment, the person or vessel will be punished under the Environment Conservation Act, 1995.
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.
