Parliament today passed the Public Examinations (Offences) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing a provision under which examiners who deliberately award excessively high or low marks in public examinations, including the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams, may face up to two years' imprisonment.
The bill amends the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980.
Under the proposed law, "Whoever over-assesses or under-assesses any public examination answer script shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both."
However, no person can be convicted under the provision unless the alleged over-assessment or under-assessment is confirmed by a third examiner.
The law defines a public examination as any examination conducted, regulated or organised by a university or education board.
Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon placed the bill in the parliament. It was passed by voice vote after lawmakers' proposals to send it to the public opinion review and selection committee were rejected.
In the statement of objectives, the minister said the amendments are aimed at curbing malpractice in public examinations, including cheating, question paper leaks, fake certificates and other irregularities.
He said the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980, enacted around 45 years ago, has become outdated due to the widespread use of technology and the growing incidence of examination-related offences committed through digital means.
The bill introduces a legal definition of "digital manipulation", covering unauthorised access to public examination databases as well as the hacking, alteration, modification, deletion or suppression of examination-related data.
Anyone found guilty of digital manipulation may face up to five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The legislation also includes provisions to protect whistleblowers who provide credible information about examination-related offences. Their identities will be protected, and they will be safeguarded from legal liability and retaliation.
It further introduces the offence of organised examination crime, making it illegal to enter into, offer or act upon any written or oral agreement with an examinee, or anyone acting on the examinee's behalf, to facilitate unfair means in a public examination.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and a fine. The amended law also prescribes penalties for entering or attempting to enter examination centres with prohibited electronic devices or for disobeying lawful instructions relating to the conduct of examinations.
These offences are punishable by up to five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
