A survey by the U

A survey by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) shows most victims were girls between 11 and 20 years old and from low income families. Under the 1995 Women and Children Repression Control Act, an acid attack can lead to a long jail term and even result in capital punishment. But this has not deterred attackers because the law has rarely been enforced, said rights groups. They allege that the police do not pursue the complaints properly because most victims are from poor village or urban households. In March 1998 the Bangladesh Cabinet has approved the death penalty for crimes against women and children including trafficking, rape and murder. The maximum punishment for such crimes was formerly 10 years in prison.