10-yr jail, Tk 10 cr fine for sabotage on power plants

The cabinet on Monday approved the draft of ‘The Power Bill, 2017’ finally keeping a provision of harsher punishment of maximum 10 years jail and Tk 10 crore fine or both for carrying out any act of sabotage in any electricity infrastructure.

As per the draft law of Power Act 2017, the violator will face seven years imprisonment as minimum punishment.

Today’s regular cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the law. Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.

The draft law has kept a provision under Section 46 for the highest 10 years and minimum 7 years of jail and maximum Taka 10 crore fine or both the punishment for destroying or damaging power establishments like power station, sub-station, power line, pole and equipment through sabotage.