BANGLADESH

A bill was tabled in parliament on Sunday with provisions of up to seven years of jail sentence for production, storage, marketing, sale, carrying, supply and exhibition of pornography.

Home minister Shahara Khatun presented the 'Pornography Control Act 2012' after which it was sent to a parliamentary committee for scrutiny.

According to the bill pornography is any dialogue, acting, posture, unclothed or partially unclothed dance in cinema, video, photography, graphics, audio-visual image or imagery otherwise captured and displayable, which causes sexual arousal and has no artistic or educational value.

Also, such books, magazines, sculptures, cartoons and leaflets which cause the sexual arousal, and their negatives and soft copies would also be considered pornography.

The home minister said pornography was spreading like 'a terrible disease' across society and in absence of any law the 'crime and criminals' cannot be stopped.

The highest punishment, that of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Tk 500,000, is reserved for those making pornography using children.

The cabinet approved this law on Jan 2. On that day prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad had told the media the crimes under this bill would be tried under special tribunals.

A seven-year term and Tk 200,000 fine was reserved in the bill for those who will lure a person, with or without their knowledge and film or photograph them.

For blackmailing a person with pornography, two to five years of jail and Tk 1-200,000 fine was proposed.