The cabinet has approved the draft of 'Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) Act, 2021', providing a minimum of three and a maximum of 10 years imprisonment or a fine or both for those involved in question paper leak of PSC examination.
The approval was given at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Ganabhaban via video conference on Tuesday. Besides, ministers and state ministers joined the meeting from the Secretariat.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the reporters after the meeting at the Secretariat.
“It was an ordinance of 1977 and has been brought up recently following the verdict of the High Court. It is a rule based law. There are 15 sections in the draft law,” he said.
An outline has been provided in the draft, stating how the examination will be conducted. Some offenses related to the examination of the PSC have been mentioned as well. The draft law stipulates a maximum of 10 years imprisonment if anyone is involved in question paper leak.
“In this case, one will be sentenced to a minimum of three years imprisonment or a fine or both and maximum ten years jail or a fine or both. A fairly stiff stand has been taken. The fine has not been specified yet,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
He also said a maximum of two years imprisonment, a minimum of one year imprisonment or a fine or both could be imposed for conducting unfair means in the test.
Those involved in forgery of answer sheets are likely to be sentenced to a maximum of two years and a minimum of one year imprisonment or a fine or both.
The Cabinet Secretary further said, “Those involved in offenses to the tests can also be brought to justice through mobile courts and punished immediately.”
The cabinet secretary said, “The issue of third class recruitment has been discussed. But no decision has been made yet.”
About the recruitment of third or fourth class government employees, he said, “Such discussions have taken place that a separate PSC could be formed. However, no decision has been made yet.”