Public Service Commission: Raise its members to 20
A parliamentary watchdog yesterday recommended increasing the number of members in Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) from 15 to 20.
The parliamentary standing committee on the public administration ministry said the issue of setting up a PSC secretariat should be included in the legal framework and the provision of making rules under the law should be added.
The parliamentary body came up with the recommendation while finalising a bill, titled "Bangladesh Public Service Commission Bill-2022".
PSC deals with the recruitment of civil-service servants in the government. They are responsible for exam related activities.
Mentioning the logic of increasing the number of PSC members from 15 to 20, the parliamentary committee said due to the rising number of candidates for direct recruitment to the posts of grade 12 and above (cadre and non-cadre) -- pre-selection, written test, viva-voce and practical tests, preparation and publication of results take a long time.
It is, therefore, necessary to increase the number of members of the commission to meet the challenges of the 21st century and to fulfil the responsibilities assigned by the Constitution in a timely manner, said the parliamentary body.
About bringing the PSC secretariat under a legal framework, the parliamentary committee said all secretarial work is done through the commission secretariat. However, as the law does not mention anything regarding the establishment of the secretariat, problems are being created in the execution of the work.
Awami League lawmaker HN Ashikur Rahman presided over the meeting at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) Bill-2022 was placed in parliament in October this year, incorporating punishment for involvement in any irregularities in any PSC examination.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain placed the bill, which was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on public administration ministry for further examination.
The maximum punishment for involvement in leaking question papers of any PSC exam will be 10 years in jail or a financial penalty or both, according to the draft law.
The bill will replace the Bangladesh Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1977, in line with a judgment of the High Court over the laws of military regimes.
The maximum punishment for adopting unfair means or helping any examinee to do so in the examinations, and engagement in answer-sheet forgery would be two years in jail or a financial penalty or both.
The penalty is one year of jail or a financial penalty or both for creating obstacles or anarchy in the examination process.
As per the bill, other related offenders will also be brought to book under mobile courts.
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