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10-yr jail, TK 10cr fine for sabotaging power structures

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Published: 10:31, 31 July 2017   Update: 15:18, 26 July 2020
10-yr jail, TK 10cr fine for sabotaging power structures

Senior Correspondent: The cabinet gave final approval to the draft of Power Act-2017 keeping a provision of maximum 10 years of imprisonment and highest penalty of TK 10 crore or both for any sabotage or destruction in any electricity infrastructure or damage to power stations, sub-stations, power lines, poles and equipments.

The approval was given at the regular cabinet meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.

While briefing reporters, he said the draft law also proposed tougher punitive actions for committing any offence or wrongdoing by the officials and employees of the power sector like giving illegal connection or doing any faulty works.

Besides, the new electricity law proposed introduction of independent system operator (ISO) to operate the country's power system in a coordinated manner as well as ensuring better load management, he said.

Shafiul said the new electricity law would replace the original Electricity Act framed in 1910 and will bar PDB, DESCO and DESA to set up new lines or conduct any public works in their jurisdiction without informing concerned higher authorities.

Citing punishment for sabotaging power structures, Shafiul said, "The draft proposed for minimum seven years and maximum 10 years of imprisonment and highest penalty of TK 10 crore or both for any sabotage or destruction in any electricity infrastructure or damage to power stations, sub-stations, power lines, poles and equipments."

The draft law proposes maximum three years in prison or Tk 50,000 fine for stealing electricity. The punishment can be double if the unit amount of electricity is stolen.

For industries, the penalty of stealing electricity would be five-year jail term or Tk 5 lakh fine.

In the case of artificial installments in the supply system, for example a tampered meter, the proposed penalty is Tk 5 lakh fine which was Tk 20,000 previously.

The draft law proposes maximum one year jail, or Tk 4 lakh in fine or both if someone is seen to misuse power intentionally.

Keeping the equipments under possession in knowledge that they are stolen will yield two-year prison time, or Tk 50,000 or both.

For stealing equipment, a minimum one-year and maximum five-year jail term, or a minimum Tk 50,000 or maximum Tk 5 lakh in fine have been proposed.

For default of any law by any worker of power distribution company, for example supplying power to beyond a specified area, will be penalised to one year in jail, or Tk 1 lakh in fine, or both.

risingbd/Dhaka/July 31, 2017/Noimuddin/Amirul

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