Cabinet okays max punishment in draft bill
The cabinet yesterday approved the draft bill on human trafficking with the provision of capital punishment for the heinous offence.
The weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the secretariat also okayed a list of 124 foreign nationals including politicians, artists and intellectuals, and institutions to accord them honour in recognition of their outstanding contributions in the 1971 Liberation War.
Drafts of ‘Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust Act 2011’, ‘Ship Breaking and Ship Recycling Act 2011’ and ‘Bangladesh Citizenship Act-2011’ were also approved, prime minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told journalists after the meeting.
He said the proposed ‘Human Trafficking Prevention and Protection Act 2011′ entitles a provision of death penalty, lifetime imprisonment and fines up to Tk 5 lakh.
There will be a special tribunal in every district after the passage of the bill in parliament, said Azad.
In addition, for stealing newly-born children from hospitals or clinics, anyone will have to face lifetime imprisonment or 12 years rigorous imprisonment with fine.
If any person, by using own wealth or land, encourages or allows human trafficking, he or she will be awarded eight years in imprisonment.
In addition, any person or organised gang involved in human trafficking will have to serve 14 years imprisonment while 10 years for forcing and cheating anyone to prostitution, the prime minister’s press secretary said.
Anybody developing or operating brothel will have to face five years’ rigorous jail term. Any owner or leaser of houses allowing prostitution will have to face minimum two years and maximum five years rigorous imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the cabinet yesterday also approved the draft of president’s speech to be delivered at the first session of parliament in the New Year.
-With The Daily Star input
