The government is not increasing the punishment for leaking question paper in the new law it is presently formulating to prevent the menace.
The education ministry recently published the draft of the proposed law retaining the highest punishment of four-year imprisonment.
The Public Examinations (Offences) Act of 1980 had 10-year imprisonment as the highest punishment, but it was lowered to four years in 1992.
The draft is being prepared amidst criticism over recent incidents of question paper leaks.
Educationists and others related to education have criticised the government for not enhancing the four-year jail term for such offences.
The education ministry will finalise the draft after taking opinions from educationists and other stakeholders by Oct 29.
Anyone can give opinion on the draft published on the education ministry website by mailing to info@moedu.gov.bd and law_officer@moedu.gov.bd.
Section 67 of the draft law says anyone leaking questions of public test, having link with such offence or abetting in the crime will be jailed for up to four years or fined Tk 100,000 or face both punishments.
Mass Literacy Campaign Executive Director Rasheda K Chowdhury termed the punishment ‘farce’.
She said paying a fine of Tk 100,000 was not a ‘big deal’ for the question leakers.
“This will only increase the crime and encourage the offenders,” she said.
“The degree of punishment cannot be less in any way. Because such incidents are taking place more often now due to the expansion of information technology.
“There had been no such technology in 1980, but the highest punishment was 10 years of imprisonment. Then why not now?” Chowdhury asked.
Guardians Unity Forum President Ziaul Kabir Dulu said the four-year imprisonment was nothing but ‘eyewash’.
“I think it aims at saving those who leak questions,” he said.
He demanded the restoration of the 10-year jail term and raising the amount of fine.
“Those who leak questions earn crores of taka,” he argued.
Dulu also said the question leakers were getting away with the crime because of the government’s indifference.
Author and teacher Muhammad Zafar Iqbal recently wrote several articles citing evidence of public test question paper leaks.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid then reacted to these by writing another article.
Nahid and Education Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan, however, did not comment on the matter despite being approached by bdnews24.com.
The draft law also has a provision to ban ‘guide books’. Any offender of this provision will be fined Tk 200,000 or sentenced to six months in jail or face both.
It proposed conducting all public examinations with creative type questions.
According to the draft, information and communication technology studies will be included in the curriculum from grade six to eight.
It proposes steps to open computer science, and ICT departments in all public and private universities.
The 25-page draft has 69 Sections.
Source: Bd news24
