DHAKA, Oct 19, 2021 (BSS) - The Cabinet today approved in principle the
draft of Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) Act, 2021 keeping a provision
of maximum 10-year jail or financial penalty for the involvement of question
papers leakage in any PSC exams.

  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 at
Bangladesh Secretariat here.

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

   About PSC Act, 2021, he said it was an ordinance of 1977
and that is why it is being made a law following the judgment
of the High Court.

   He said, "It is a rule-based law where maximum issues will be dealt 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 through rules later.

   The cabinet secretary said, "According to the article 8 of the draft law,
those who are found involved in leaking the question paper of any examination to be
conducted by Public Service Commission (PSC), they must face either highest
10-year imprisonment, 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 can 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 is found engaged in irregularities over the properties and incomes of
the mosques, he would face highest two years in jail or financial penalty
or both," said Khandker Anwarul Islam mentioning that the Shahi 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.