Jail, fine for making illegal infrastructures on highway

The Cabinet on Monday approved in principle a draft of “Highway Law-2020” keeping provision of punishment for different offenses.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the regular cabinet meeting, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban while her cabinet colleagues attended the meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the newsmen after from the meeting.

He said the proposed law kept a provision that mentioned specific places for pedestrian movement, while any type of crop or good would not be allowed on the highway for sundry or other purposes. “If anyone violates these rules, he or she would be penalized Taka 1,000 to Taka 5000,” he added.

Besides, if anyone makes illegal infrastructures on the highway, he/she has to face a maximum two years jail or financial penalty.

“For illegally setting up permanent infrastructure, a fine of maximum Taka 500,000 or two years jail or both punishments would be given. While maximum Taka 50,000 or two years jail or both punishments would be given for setting up temporary infrastructure,” said the cabinet secretary.

In addition, as per the proposed law Taka 10,000 would be fined if anyone sets up billboards, signboards or any type of gates on the highway, he added.

The cabinet also cleared the proposal of cutting and removal of trees on 53.15 acres of forest land in Tangail district to lay gas transmission line from Dhanua to Elenga and west side of Bangabandhu Bridge-Nalka areas by GTCL.

Regarding the project, the cabinet secretary said the forest department would plant new trees with the financial assistance of GTCL.

The cabinet also approved the drafts of Mongla Port Authority Law -2020, Hajj and Umrah Management Law-2020 and Highway Landscaping Policy-2020 in principle.