DHAKA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi cabinet has given its nod to the draft of "the Standards of Weights and Measures Bill, 2017" incorporating provisions for much harsher penalties for local traders and exporters cheating in weight and measurement.
The approval came at the regular cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Monday.
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told journalists that the draft law is aimed at improving the country's existing weight and measurement system.
He said the law has been drafted in light of the global practices.
He said there is a provision for one year of imprisonment or 50,000 taka as fine for improper weights and measures for the purpose of export goods.
Alam further said the draft law also keeps a provision of maximum two years' imprisonment or 100,000 taka fine for businesses cheating in weight instead of two years of jail or 50,000 fine under the existing law -- "Standards of Weights and Measures Ordinance 1982." (1 U.S. dollar equals to 82 taka)
