The draft of the law will be tabled in parliament as early as possible, said State Minister for Power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud yesterday.

"The law will be applicable to both consumers and officials as consumers cannot pilfer power without the help of dishonest officials," he said at a programme titled 'Face to Face with Women Journalists' in the city.

The law will have provisions for jail term and snapping of electricity connections as punishment.

The state minister said the Power Development Board (PDB) and Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (Desa) have been facing a total loss of Tk 4000 crore due to power pilferage, unabated corruption and non-payment of bills.

He also said at least $ 2.7 billion is needed to meet the growing demand for power. "If we get the money, we will be able to provide electricity for all."

To stop power pilferage, pre-paid meter would also be introduced in Sylhet, Bogra, Chittagong, Sirajganj and Banani area of Dhaka in January, he said.

The new law will include three stages of punishment for power pilferage -- if caught for the first time, the person involved will get six months' jail term and the power connection will remain cut off for six months. If the act is repeated for the second time, the consumer will be jailed for one year and the power connection will remain cut off for two years. If it is repeated for the third time, the person will get seven years' jail term and will be deprived of electricity forever.

"I do not blame the consumers for pilferage; the employees are mainly responsible for it," Iqbal Hasan observed.

Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) organised the programme.