Tk 1.4 crore compensation for death of air passenger

Parliament yesterday passed The Air Transport (Montreal Convention 1999) Bill 2020 to pave the way for compensating the heirs to an air passenger's properties $160,000 (Tk 1.4 crore) in case of his death.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali had placed the bill in the House on June 23. It was passed on a voice vote.

Once the bill is signed into law by the president, it will also help ensure proper compensations for passengers' injuries, damages to their baggage or cargo goods in line with the Montreal Convention 1999.

Bangladesh is a signatory to the Montreal Convention which deals with passengers' rights and compensation, but there had been no law related to the Convention in the country.

As there was no such law, Bangladesh did not get benefits as prescribed in the Convention.

Previously, the heirs to an air passenger's properties used to get a compensation of Tk 20.37 lakh for his death.

The new bill stipulates that a passenger will receive a compensation of $70 for damages to each kg of his baggage and $27 for damages to each kg of his cargo goods.

According to the bill, the maximum punishment for violating its any provision by an airline would be 10 year's jail or a fine of Tk 100 crore.