The Obstructions in Fairways Act, 1881

¹An Act to empower the Government to remove or destroy obstructions in fairways, and to prevent the creation of such obstructions.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be called the Obstructions in Fairways Act, 1881;

But nothing herein contained shall apply to vessels belonging to, or hired by a contract made on behalf of, the Government.

Section 2. Government empowered to remove or destroy obstruction in fairway

Whenever, in any fairway leading to any port in Bangladesh, any vessel is sunk, stranded or abandoned, or any fishing-stake, timber or other thing is placed or left, the Government may, if in its opinion such thing is, or is likely to become, an obstruction or danger to navigation,-

Section 3. Government entitled to expenses incurred in removing obstruction

Whenever anything is removed under section 2, the Government shall be entitled to receive a reasonable sum, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, for the expenses incurred in respect of such removal.

Dispute concerning such expenses

Any dispute arising concerning the amount due under this section, in respect of anything so removed, shall be decided by the District Magistrate having jurisdiction at the place where such thing is, upon application to him for that purpose by either of the disputing parties; and such decision shall be final.

Section 4. Notice of removal to be given by Government

The Government shall, whenever anything is removed under section 2, publish in the official Gazette a notification containing a description of such thing, and the time at which and the place from which the same was so removed.

Section 5. Things removed may, in certain cases, be sold

If, after publishing such notification, such thing is unclaimed, or if the person claiming the same fails to pay the amount due for the said expenses and any customs-duties or other charges properly incurred by the Government in respect thereof,

the Government may sell such thing by public auction, if it is of a perishable nature, forthwith, and, if it is not of a perishable nature, at any time not less than six months after publishing such notification as aforesaid.

Section 6. Proceeds how applied

On realizing the proceeds of such sale, the amount due for expenses and charges as aforesaid, together with the expenses of the sale, shall be deducted therefrom, and the surplus (if any) shall be paid to the owner of the thing sold, or, if no such person appear and claim such surplus, shall be held in deposit for payment, without interest, to any person thereafter establishing his right to the same:

Provided that he makes the claim within one year from the date of the sale.

Section 7. “Vessel” to include tackle, cargo, etc.

For the purposes of this Act, the term “vessel” shall be deemed to include also every article or thing or collection of things being or forming part of the tackle, equipment, cargo, stores or ballast of a vessel; and any proceeds arising from the sale of a vessel, and of the cargo thereof, or of any other property recovered therefrom, shall be regarded as a common fund.

Section 8. Power to make rules to regulate and prohibit the placing of obstructions in fairways

The Government may, from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules to regulate or prohibit, in any fairway leading to a port in Bangladesh, the placing of fishing-stakes, the casting or throwing of ballast, rubbish or any other thing likely to give rise to a bank or shoal, or the doing of any other act which will in its opinion, cause, or be likely to cause, obstruction or danger to navigation.

Section 9. Penalty for breach of such rules

Whoever is guilty of any act or omission in contravention of the rules made under section 8 may be tried for such offence in any district in which he is found, and shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred taka, or with both.

Section 10. Compensation payable in certain cases for damage caused under this Act

Whenever the maintenance or creation of an obstruction in any fairway has become lawful by long usage or otherwise, and such obstruction is removed or destroyed under section 2, or its creation is regulated or prohibited under section 8, any person having a right to maintain or create such obstruction shall be entitled to receive from the Government reasonable compensation for any damage caused to him by such removal, destruction, regulation or prohibition.

Every dispute arising concerning the right to such compensation, or the amount thereof, shall be determined according to the law for the time being in force relating to like disputes in the case of land needed for public purposes and not otherwise; and for the purposes of such law the fairway from or in which such obstruction was removed or destroyed, or in which its creation was regulated or prohibited, shall be deemed to be a part of the district in which the port to which such fairway leads is situate.

Section 11. [Omitted]

[Omitted by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973).]

Section 12. Saving other powers possessed by Government

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent the exercise by the Government of any other powers possessed by it in this behalf.

Section 13. [Omitted]

[Omitted by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973).]