Bill to maintain int'l weight standard passed

The parliament last night passed “Standards of Weights and Measures Bill, 2018”, to achieve international standard in maintaining weight and measurement of products.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu placed the bill, which was passed by voice vote.

The proposed law says anyone using non-standard weights without prior approval from government will be given maximum six months' jail or fined maximum Tk 20,000.

There is also a provision in the bill to sentence a person to one year's jail or fine Tk 1 lakh for the same offence.

Under the existing law, an offender is given six months' jail or fined Tk 3,000.

The proposed law says, anyone who changes standards of weights and measures will be given maximum two years' imprisonment or be fined Tk 50,000.

The law also has provision of maximum one year's jail or Tk 50,000 fine for producing non-standard weights and measures for export.

The original Standard of Weights and Measures Ordinance 1982 has been translated to Bangla and modified through incorporating the issues related to the international organisations.