Dhaka: The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft of ‘The Civil Aviation Bill, 2017’ incorporating a provision for capital punishment or life term and a fine of maximum taka five crore for obstructing any aircraft operation.

The approval was given at the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at the Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the draft law has been formulated making the existing Civil Aviation Ordinance of 1960 more time-befitting one and incorporating guidelines for the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Shafiul Alam said the draft law has incorporated provisions for capital punishment or life term imprisonment and a fine of maximum Tk five crore obstructing the flying of any aircraft or creating obstacles to aviation.

He said the punishment for creating obstacles to aviation of navigation will be maximum life-term imprisonment and up to taka five crore fine or both.

Besides, he said, jail term and the amount of fine in the existing law for running the aircraft dangerously has also been raised in line with the present reality.

The Cabinet Secretary said a provision has been kept for maximum five years of jail or maximum taka one crore as fine or both the punishments for violating the rules of the Air Navigation Order (ANO).

Alam said any person entering the airspace of Bangladesh illegally by flying an aircraft will have to face maximum seven years and minimum three years of imprisonment or pay up to Tk 50 lakh fine.

There is also a provision of maximum five years’ jail term or up to Tk 50 lakh fine for any pilot or responsible person for flying the aircraft dangerously, he added.

Explaining dangerously flying an aircraft, the Cabinet Secretary said anyone deliberately doing such works that could put the lives of passengers at risk would come under the jurisdiction of the law.

He also informed that if anyone carries ‘dangerous’ goods in the aircraft, the responsible person will to serve maximum seven years’ imprisonment or pay up to Tk 50 lakh as fine.

The Cabinet meeting also okayed the draft of ‘The Textile Policy, 2017’ updating the existing textile policy of 1995 through setting some specific goals, vision and mission to improve the textile sector by implementing the policy.