New Power Act to bring 10 years of jail for sabotage

The cabinet has approved the draft of Power Act 2017 with tougher penalties for sabotaging power structures.

The approval came at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Monday, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told reporters after the meeting on Monday.

The law provides for a minimum of 7 years and a maximum of 10 years in jail and up to Tk 100 million in fines for deliberately destructing electricity installations.

Any official who provides power connections beyond territory will be jailed for one year or fined Tk 0.1 million, or face both, according to the new law.

The Power Act has been revised more than 100 years later and the prevailing one is Power Act 1910