24. (1) Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 17 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ¹[five years, or with fine ²[which shall not be less than five lakh taka],] or with both. (2) Where the person guilty of an offence referred to in sub-section (1) is a company or other body corporate, every director, manager or other officer responsible for the conduct of its affairs shall, unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all diligence to prevent its commission, be deemed to be guilty of the offence.