On August 10, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's cabinet...

On August 10, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's cabinet approved "The Women and Child Repression Control Act, 1999", a new draft legislation to introduce capital punishment for rape, kidnapping and acid throwing, among other crimes, to check the increase in offenses against women. Bangladesh Law Minister Abdul Matin Khasru, who placed the draft declared: "The new law has been formulated to effectively prevent repression of children and women with stern punitive measures." The maximum penalty for trafficking in or raping women in Bangladesh is currently 10 years' imprisonment. The draft was to be brought before parliament during the session which began at the end of the month. The Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has expressed determination to curb criminal activities relating to the abuse of women and children.