The Cabinet on Monday approved in principle the draft of Bangladesh Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones (Amendment) Bill 2019 determining the maritime zones and incorporating the provision of death penalty in the case of killing people during piracies and violence in sea.

The approval came from the Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed reporters at the Secretariat after the meeting.

“The Foreign Ministry brought the bill for the Cabinet approval to the maritime zones in line with international conventions,” said the Cabinet Secretary.

Once the bill is passed (in Parliament), the rights of Bangladesh to exclusive economic zone will be established over 200 nautical miles, while it’s sovereign rights over 350 nautical miles in the continental shelf of the sea, he said.

Under the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, all coastal countries are granted sovereign right to the stretch of sea extending 200 nautical miles beyond their coast, which is known as exclusive economic zone.

Punitive provisions have been kept in the proposed law for committing or abetting crimes, including piracy, theft and violence on the sea.

In the case of killing people during piracies and violence on the sea, the maximum punishment would be death penalty, said the Cabinet Secretary.

The highest punishment for piracies and other offences would be the life sentence, while that for abetting such crimes is 14 years’ imprisonment, he said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said the Cabinet approved the draft "Bangladesh Territorial Waters and Maritime Zone Bill 2019" after necessary changes to "Bangladesh Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act 1974" approved by Bangabandhu, making it a time-befitting one.
The changes were made in line with the verdict of the international court on maritime boundary, he said. 

Dr Momen said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman approved the act when there was no such law in other countries of the world.

Later, India, Pakistan, Norway and other countries adopted such a law, he said. 

Besides, the Cabinet approved the proposal for the ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

In 2016, the amendment was brought to the protocol in Ruanda aiming to bring down hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) gradually by cutting their production and consumption.