The government has amended Election Officers (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 with tougher punishments for violations of the law including stricter jail terms and higher fines for election officials and individuals found guilty of misconduct.
The law ministry issued a gazette of the amended law on Sunday night, which increased penalties for failure to comply with or execute orders under Section 4 and 5.
According to the amended law, if any official fails to comply with or execute any order issued under sub-section (3), (4), or (5) of section 5, it shall be deemed an offence, and for such offence, he/she shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years but not less than one year, or with a fine not exceeding Tk20,000 or with both.
The earlier version of the law stipulated a maximum of six months in prison or a fine not exceeding Tk 2,000 for similar offences.
Meanwhile, under the amended law, any person contravening sub-section (1) or (2) of Section 4 of the law will now face up to one year in prison or a fine of up to one lakh taka, or both.
In the past, the same offence carried a maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment or a fine of Tk 5,000.
