Bangladesh bans 'beggar masters'
China Daily | Updated: 2010-03-25 07:49
DHAKA - The Bangladeshi government has approved new laws to tackle "beggar masters" who force people onto the streets and sometimes amputate their body parts to increase their value, an official said Tuesday.
Under the Vagabond and Street Beggars Rehabilitation Act 2010 approved by the country's cabinet on Monday, forcing anyone to beg would be punishable by three years in jail, social welfare ministry official M. Shamsuzzoha said.
The punishment would be five years in jail and an additional 500,000-taka ($7,000) fine if anyone is found guilty of severing a limb of a beggar and then sending him or her onto the streets.
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