DHAKA: The government has taken initiatives to amend ‘The Public Examinations (Offense) 1980 Act’ in making it stronger with the provision of stern punishment for spreading rumor about question paper leak.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid made the disclosure while talking to reporters after attending inter-ministry meeting on preventing question paper leak at the secretariat on Wednesday.

A 10-year imprisonment was suggested in ‘The Public Examinations (Offense) 1980 Act’. Later, amending the law in 1992, the punishment was reduced to four-year.

Pointing at the amended law, the minister said the punishment would be increased and the convicts would be fined and even their property would be seized.

The mobile court would punish them immediately, he added.

The proposal of amending law would also be published seeking public reaction, the newsmen were told.

Apart from this, at least 32 sets of question paper will be set to avert the leakage, he added.

BDST: 1746 HRS, AUG 20, 2104