The cabinet yesterday 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 in Dhaka.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the newsmen after 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 Tk1,000 to Tk5,000,” he added.
Besides, if anyone makes illegal infrastructures on the highway, he/she has to face a maximum of two years of jail or financial penalty.
“For illegally setting up permanent infrastructure, a fine of maximum Tk500,000 or two years jail or both punishments would be given. While maximum Tk50,000 or two years jail or both punishments would be given for setting up temporary infrastructure,” said the cabinet secretary.
Besides, as per the proposed law, Tk10,000 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.
