Anyone obstructing the entry and work of journalists and observers at polling stations during elections is subject to two to seven years in jail in the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2023.
The final approval was given in a weekly Cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday.
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain briefed reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat.
The Cabinet said a new provision has been incorporated regarding Election Commission to postpone or cancel the election result of one or more than one polling station during the election.
“A new provision has been incorporated in it…. As per the provision, the authority has been given to postpone or cancel the result of one or more than one polling stations at any time during the election due to the use of muscle power or any other reason,”
He, however, said the entire election cannot be cancelled in the proposed law.
He explained that if the Election Commission thinks that there is a problem with the balloting of a polling station, it can cancel or postpone its balloting during the election. It may be during balloting or ballot counting.
The Cabinet earlier on March 28 last approved in principle the draft of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2023.
