FE Today Logo

Maximum 10 years' jail for PSC question paper leaks

Cabinet approves draft law


October 20, 2021 00:00:00


The maximum punishment for involvement in leaking the question paper of any PSC examination will be 10 years' jail or financial penalty or both, according to a draft law approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, reports UNB.

The Cabinet approved in principle the draft of Bangladesh Public Service Commission Act, 2021 in a meeting held with Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The PM joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other Cabinet members from the Bangladesh Secretariat.

"According to article 8 of the draft law, those who are involved in leaking the question paper of any examination to be held under the Public Service Commission (PSC) might face the highest 10 years' jail, financial punishment or both. A tough stance has been taken against question paper leak," said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam.

He said the draft law was placed in the meeting to replace the Bangladesh Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1977 in line with a judgment of the High Court over the laws of military regimes.

The maximum punishment for adopting unfair means in examination and engagement in answer sheet forgery would be two years' jail or financial penalty or both, he said, adding that such crimes could also be punished by the mobile court.

The Cabinet also approved in principle the draft of the Zakat Fund Management Act, 2021 in order to motivate people to provide Zakat to the government fund, using the latest information technology, he said.

Besides, the Cabinet discussed the recent e-commerce scams and decided to bring all e-commerce companies under the registration and monitoring system.

The five-member committee, recently formed headed by an additional secretary of the commerce ministry, will place its report over e-commerce frauds within the next 20 days, said the Cabinet Secretary.

"Today, a decision was taken that all of those who are engaged in such business will have to be monitored by bringing them under the registration system," he said.

The Cabinet also stressed the need for raising public awareness over any possible e-commerce fraud and abnormal offers of e-commerce companies, he said.


Share if you like