Bangladesh
Question Paper Leak Leaking PSC question papers could land perpetrators to 10 years in jail
Dhaka, October 20: A maximum of 10 years imprisonment will be imposed for leaking question paper of the Public Service Commission (PSC) examination. With such a provision of punishment, the cabinet has approved in principle the draft of 'Bangladesh Public Service Commission Act, 2021'.
The approval was given at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday (October 19). Ministers and state ministers attended the meeting via video conference.
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam informed about the approval at a press briefing. "It was the 1977 ordinance. It has been brought in the light of the judgment of the High Court. It is a rule based law."
The cabinet secretary said, "The draft calls for the formation of a commission. That has been explained. The commission will have at least six members, but in no case will there be more than 15 members. An outline has been given. The rest of the formation will be done by rule.
An outline of how the test will be conducted has been drafted in the law, he said, adding, "The matter will be explained by rules."
Khandaker Anwarul Islam said, "The draft law provides for a maximum of 10 years imprisonment if involved in leaking questions. In this case, he will be sentenced to a minimum of 3 years imprisonment or fine. A fairly stiff stand has been taken. The fine was not specified."
He added, "Those involved in forgery of answer sheets can be sentenced to a maximum of two years and a minimum of one year imprisonment or fine or both."
"If an examinee cooperates with another person in an unscrupulous manner, then the examinee will also be sentenced to a maximum of 2 years and a minimum of one year imprisonment and a fine or both. The draft law provides for a maximum of one year imprisonment or a fine or both for obstruction of examination.
"If the person involved in conducting the test commits a crime, the person could face up to two years in prison or a fine or both," he said. "It has also been included in the mobile court. Those involved in the test can also be brought to justice through mobile courts and punished immediately."
