In Bangladesh, pornography in any form is illegal. It is against the law to watch, produce, distribute, or possess pornography since the enactment of the Pornography Control Act in 2012. [1]
Pornographic materials may include perverted and paraphilic novels, sometimes with illustrations, which are often sold by small roadside book shops. [2]
In 2009, studies by the Manusher Jonno Foundation found increase in production of child pornography. [3] In 2013, a report by the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha cited a study that found that over 30 million taka worth of pornography is downloaded per month in cyber cafes in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The report also found that 77 percent of pornography viewers were underage. [2]
In 2015, the High Court Division asked the government to stop pornographic material in social media. [4] In 2016, Bangladesh government minister Tarana Halim, had announced plans to block internet porn sites in Bangladesh. [5] The information and telecommunications minister of the 11th parliamentary government of Bangladesh Mostafa Zabbar blocked nearly 20,000 porn websites access in Bangladesh from November 2018 to February 2019. [6]
The Pornography Control Act of 2012 defined pornography as images and videos depicting nudity or semi-nudity. The Act criminalizes pornography, making the possession, distribution and production of pornographic material illegal in the country.
The maximum punishment for producing pornography is up to 7 years of imprisonment with hard labour with fines up to 200,000 BDT. The 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 result in up to 10 years in prison with labour and fines up to 500,000 BDT. [7]
The law has been welcomed by most Bangladeshis. [8] However, critics argue that while the law may deter blackmailing and exploitation, it ill be difficult to enforce. [8] In 2012, the Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Abul Kalam Azad, stated that "pornography has spread like a disease in Bangladesh". [9] Pornography is viewed negatively and is blamed for turning children into "perverts". [10]
Jazmin Chaudhry | |
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জেজমিন চৌধুরী। | |
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Born | May 15, 1985 [11] [12] |
Nationality | Naturalised citizen of United States [11] [12] from Bangladesh [11] [12] |
Other names | Sudha, Jazmine, Jasmine, Jazmine Chaudhry, Jazmin, Lucy Heart |
Occupation | Pornographic actor [11] [12] |
Years active | 2004–2008 [13] [14] [15] |
Employer | Spiegler Girls (2004) |
Notable work | • Bangladesh Booty • Orgy World: The Next Level 7 • Worship This Bitch 3: The Jazmin Edition • BiggZ and the Beauties 11 • Bounce |
Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) [13] |
Children | 1 [14] [15] |
Awards | 2005 AVN Awards (Best Group Sex Scene, Video) for Orgy World: The Next Level 7 (as Jasmine) [16] [17] |
Jazmin Chaudhary (better known as Jazmin) is a Bangladesh-born American adult film actress. She is the first pornographic actor known to have been born in Bangladesh. [11] [12] [14] [15] Born on May 15, 1985, in Chattogram, Bangladesh, she moved to the United States with her parents at a young age. There, at the age of 19, she came into pornographic acting. [11] [12] [14] [15] In her five year career between 2004 and 2008, she featured in over 90 films, and worked for Spiegler Girls [18] (one of the most influential agencies in the adult film industry [19] ). [14] [15] At the 2005 AVN Awards Show (the top award in adult industry [20] ), Jazmin (credited as Jasmine) won the award of Best Group Sex Scene, Video for Orgy World: The Next Level 7 by Evasive Angles. [16] [17] Bangladesh Booty, the first Bangladesh-themed pornographic film was made with Jazmin in the lead. [11] [12] [14] [15] She retired from the adult industry in 2008 with a husband and a son. [14] [15]
[...] earned seven Adult Video News awards, referred to as the Oscars of porn.
[...] the most prestigious event in the world of adult film: the Adult Video News Awards, hereby known as the Avis, popularly known as the porno Oscars.