177. (1) The master of a Bangladesh ship shall receive on board his ship and afford passage and maintenance to all distressed seamen whom he is required by the Bangladesh Consular Officer to take on board his ship, and shall, during the passage, provide every such distressed seaman with accommodation equal to that normally provided for the crew of the ship and subsistence proper to the rank or rating of the said distressed seaman: Provided that the master of the ship shall not be required to receive on board his ship a distressed seaman in terms of this section if the Bangladesh Consular Officer is satisfied that accommodation is not and cannot be made available for such seaman. (2) If the master of any such ship, when required so to do under sub section (1), fails or refuses to receive on board his ship, or to give a passage of subsistence to, or to provide for, a distressed seaman, he shall, for each offence be punishable with fine which may extend to five thousand Taka.