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Pornography in Bangladesh is forbidden. It is against the law to watch, produce, distribute, or possess pornography, since the Pornography Control Act has been passed in 2012.

Types of publication

Print

Perverted and paraphilic novels, which sometimes included illustrations, sometimes sold by small roadside book shops.

Internet

In 2009 a report found increase in production of child pornography. In 2013 a study found that over 30 million Taka worth of pornography is downloaded per month in Cyber Cafes in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The report also found 77 percent of pornography viewers were underage.

In 2015 the High Court of Bangladesh asked the government to stop pornographic material in social media. In 2016 Bangladesh Government Minister, Tarana Halim, has announced plans to block internet porn sites in Bangladesh. Information and telecommunications minister of 11th parliamentary government of Bangladesh, Mostafa Zabbar, blocked nearly 20,000 porn websites access in Bangladesh from November 2018 to February 2019.

Legality

Pornography in Bangladesh is legally defined as images and videos depicting nudity or semi-nudity.

The Pornography Control act of 2012 criminalizes pornography and possession, distribution and production of pornographic material is illegal in Bangladesh.

Maximum punishment for producing pornography is up to 7 years of imprisonment with hard labour with fines up to 200,000 BDT. Minimum punishment for possessing and distributing pornographic material can be up to 5 years of imprisonment with labour and fines up to 200,000 BDT.

Possession, distribution, production and publication of child pornography can be penalised with up to 10 years in prison with labour and up to 500,000 BDT fines.

Socio-cultural attitudes

The laws have been welcomed by most Bangladeshi. But critics say though the law will deter blackmailing and exploitation it would be very hard to police. In 2012, the Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Abul Kalam Azad, said "pornography has spread like a disease in Bangladesh". Pornography is viewed negatively and is blamed for making children "perverts".

See also

• Internet censorship in Bangladesh
• Male prostitution in Bangladesh
• Prostitution in Bangladesh
• Pornography in Asia

References

1. "Anti-porn law has 7 years in jail". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
2. ^ "Let's talk about porn". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
3. "Studies show rise in child pornography". The Daily Star. 20 August 2009. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
4. "Stop pornography in social media: HC". The Daily Star. 10 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
5. "Tarana vows to block porn sites". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
6. ‘১৫৬৩৬টি পর্ন ও ২২৩৫টি জুয়ার ওয়েবসাইট খুঁজে পেয়েছি’ [We have found 15,636 porn and 2,235 gambling websites]. Jamuna Television (in Bengali). 18 February 2019.
7. "পর্নোগ্রাফি নিয়ন্ত্রণ আইন, ২০১২ | ৮। দণ্ড". bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
8. ^ Jillani, Shahzeb (2 January 2012). "Bangladesh cabinet approves anti-pornography law". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
9. "Bangladesh Seeks Law to Criminalize Pornography". International Business Times. 2 January 2012. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
10. "77pc schoolchildren watch pornography". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.

• Pornography by country
• Law of Bangladesh
• Pornography in Asia