The vast majority of the population supports the country’s new, firm stance against exam cheating. According to a recent online poll, 88% of participants support the newly passed law that establishes a maximum penalty of five years in prison for digital cheating on public exams.
The poll was conducted by Dainik Shiksha, an online newspaper specializing in education, on its website. Voting took place from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, with a total of 2,861 internet users participating.
What the Survey Found
Participants were asked a simple question: Do you agree with the law that establishes a five-year prison sentence as punishment for leaking exams and digital fraud in public tests? Three options were available: “Yes,” “No,” and “No comment.”
The results were one-sided:
- Yes (support): 2,525 people — 88 percent
- No (against): 272 people — 10 percent
- No comment: 64 people — 2 percent
In other words, nearly nine out of ten respondents believe that severe punishment is the right measure, while only one in ten disagreed with the five-year prison sentence.
It’s important to remember that this was an online opinion poll among the portal’s readers, not a nationwide scientific study; however, the overwhelming margin clearly reflects public opinion on exam cheating.
The Law Behind the Survey
The survey focuses on the Public Examinations (Offenses) Amendment Act of 2026, passed on Tuesday in the Jatiya Sangsad during the second session of the 13th Parliament, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad. Education Minister Dr. A. N. M. Ehsanul Haque Milon introduced the bill to the House, where it was approved by voice vote.
The new law updates the Public Examinations (Offenses) Act of 1980, a law drafted some 45 years ago, long before the existence of smartphones, Telegram groups, and online question leaks. The original law was designed to prevent fraud, question leaks, fake certificates, and other irregularities in public examinations, but it simply wasn’t prepared for today’s technologically advanced forms of crime.
What Counts as “Digital Fraud” Under the New Law?
According to the statement of objectives attached to the bill, the amendment became necessary due to the sharp increase in technology crimes in recent years, especially unauthorized access to exam databases and the unauthorized modification, deletion, or concealment of exam information.
Under the amended law, a maximum of five years’ imprisonment along with a fine can be handed down for offenses including:
- Unauthorized access to or hacking of public examination databases
- Altering, deleting, or concealing exam-related data
- Organized, gang-based exam crimes such as coordinated question leaks
- Entering an exam hall with banned electronic devices without permission
Why This Matters
Leaked exam questions and technological cheating have damaged the credibility of public exams in the country for years, harming honest students who prepare properly. The survey results suggest that the public—students, parents, and teachers—is fed up with this situation and demands real consequences for those responsible for these offenses.
Now, the key issue is enforcement: a law that is sound in theory is only useful if it is rigorously applied in practice. This is what everyone will be watching in the upcoming exam periods.
What do you think? Is a five-year prison sentence the appropriate punishment for cheating on digital exams, or should it be even harsher? Share your opinion in the comments and follow us to stay up to date on the latest education news.
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