Updated Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill placed in JS

The Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill 2021, defining the digitally recorded documents as such evidence under the proposed law, was placed in Parliament on Monday.

Though there is already a law to deal with it, the draft of the new law was brought to incorporate digitally-recorded evidence in it.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal placed the Bill in the House and it was sent to the respective Parliamentary Standing Committee for further scrutiny. The Committee was asked to submit its report within one month.

The proposed law is going to replace the old Bankers’ Book Evidence Act 1891 as many things in the current law are not consistent with the present-day situation.

Besides, the banks are now working digitally which was not mentioned in the previous law and the draft law has stated it clearly.

The proposed law has suggested making information public except those of private one after taking permission from the court and fixing the authorities who can do that.

The new law also states some offences, punishments and trial to prevent unauthorised and the behind-scene leak of any information.

The proposed law defines the jurisdiction of the court for any bank-related information, which is totally prohibited in the old one.

Some of the information have been opened up in the new law, axing the privileged and personal information, which will be authorised to publish the information.