Maximum 10-year jail for PSC question papers leak

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved in principle the draft of Bangladesh Public Service Commission Act, 2021 keeping a provision of maximum 10-year jail or financial penalty for the involvement of question papers leak in any examination under PSC.

The approval came at the weekly cabinet meeting held virtually with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The premier joined the meeting from her official residence Ganabhaban, while her cabinet colleagues joined it at Bangladesh Secretariat here.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the newsmen about the outcome of the meeting at the Secretariat.

About Bangladesh Public Service Commission Act, 2021, he said it was an ordinance of 1977 and that is why it has been brought following the judgment of the High Court.

He said, “It is a rule based law where maximum issue will be done with the rule and a general provision has been laid down in the law.”

Mentioning that the draft law has 15 sections, he said since it is a rule based law that is why all the procedures will be done following rules later.

The cabinet secretary said, “According to the 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), they might face the highest 10-year jail, financial punishment or both. Tough stance has been taken against the leak of question papers.”

He said the maximum punishment for adopting unfair means in examination and engagement in the answer paper’s forgery would be two-year jail or financial penalty or both. “Such crimes could also be punished by the mobile court,” he added.

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

People can give their Zakat to the government Zakat fund through any scheduled bank, said the Cabinet Secretary, adding the proposed law was brought modifying the Zakat Fund Ordinance, 1982.

Besides, the meeting approved in principle the draft of Chattogram Shahi Jame Mosque Act, 2021 for the maintenance of the properties of the Mosque.

“If anyone engages in irregularities over the properties and incomes of the mosques, he/she would face highest two years in jail or financial penalty or both,” said Khandker Anwarul Islam mentioning that the mosque has very valuable lands of 2.43 acres in Chattogram.

The draft law will replace the Chittagong Shahi Masjid Ordinance, 1986, he said. In the meeting, the Prime Minister unveiled the cover of a book titled “Bangabandhur Roktorin” (Bangabandhu’s Blood Debt), published with the initiative of the Local Government Division, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.