138. (1) The master of a Bangladesh ship shall not leave a seaman or apprentice behind at any port or place outside Bangladesh, except where the seaman or apprentice is discharged in accordance with this Ordinance unless he previously obtains from the Bangladesh Consular Officer a certificate endorsed on the agreement with the crew and stating the cause of the seaman or a apprentice being left behind.

(2) The Bangladesh Consular Officer to whom an application is made for a certificate under sub section (1) shall examine the grounds on which the seaman or apprentice is to be left behind, and may grant or refuse the certificate as he thinks just, but shall not unreasonably refuse such certificate.

(3) As soon as may be after a seaman or apprentice is left behind under sub-section (1),the master shall sign and send to the Shipping Master before whom the crew was engaged a full and accurate statement of the seaman or apprentice so left behind in the form sanctioned by the Government.

(4) If a master acts in contravention of any of the provisions of this section, he shall, for each offence, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand Taka, or with both.