JS-05 Air Transport Bill 2020 passed in Jatiya Sangsad

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JS-05

AIR-TRANSPORT-BILL

Air Transport Bill 2020 passed in Jatiya Sangsad

SANGSAD BHABAN, Nov 17, 2020 (BSS) – The Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday passed the Air Transport (Montreal Convention 1999) Bill 2020 aiming to make hassle free air travelling of the passengers by ensuring compensation for deaths and injuries and in case of any cargo goods damage, in line with the Montreal Convention 1999.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and tourism Md Mahbub Ali moved the bill in the House which was unanimously passed by voice votes with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

While placing the bill, the state minister said the proposed law will help ensure proper compensation for the deaths or injuries of air passengers, damages of baggage or cargo goods in line with the Montreal Convention 1999.

The Air Transport (Montreal Convention 1999) Bill 2020 has been placed in Parliament to pave the way for an air passenger to get some $160,000 (Tk 1.4 crore) as compensation in case of death.

Bangladesh is a signatory to the Montreal Convention which deals with the passenger rights and compensation, but it was not transformed into a law in Bangladesh.

Since there is no law over the convention, Bangladesh does not get the benefits as prescribed in the convention.

The bill, if enacted as law, will give protection to the air passengers.

Under the bill, passengers will get compensation for death and injuries, damages or delay of baggage and cargo goods.

Some 160,000 US dollar has been proposed as compensation for the death of a passenger, while 70 US dollar for damaging a kilogram of baggage materials and 27 US dollar for damaging a kilogram of cargo goods, according to the bill.

The punishment for the violation of any provision of the bill by any airline would be maximum 10 years jail or Taka 100 crore fine, said the bill.

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