18. (1) Within a period of two months from the commencement of this Act or from the opening of any hotel or lodging-house, whichever is later, the owner of every hotel and lodging-house shall apply to the Controller for registration of his hotel or lodging-house and for determination of fair rates in relation thereto: Provided that the Government may, by a special or general order, by notification in the official Gazette, exempt any hotel or lodging-house or class of hotels or lodging-houses from the provisions of this section. (2) Any owner of a hotel or lodging-house who fails to get his hotel or lodging-house registered in compliance with sub-section (1) shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred Taka.