76. The BNHRC remains concerned that the children of women who worked as sex workers often ended up working there too. In red light areas, many children have to work as bonded sex workers. They must pay all their earnings to the brothel's madam for their first few years in return for food, clothes and essentials. Child victims of commercial sexual exploitation risked also ending up in brothels or on the streets through trafficking, family break-downs or poverty. 77. PREVENTION OF SALE, TRAFFIC IN AND ABDUCTION OF CHILDREN The BNHRC considers that sufficient penal provisions are already in existence to combat prevention of sale, traffic in and abduction of children. The Prevention of Cruelty to Women and Children Act 2000 provides that trafficking in child is punishable with death or rigorous imprisonment for life.105 Kidnapping of a newborn baby has been made punishable with a similar sentence.106 The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012 provides that kidnapping of a newborn baby for the purpose of human trafficking should be punishable with imprisonment for life or with rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than 5 years.107 78. The BNHRC notes that according to the GoB, 737 cases related to trafficking in women and children were under trial in different courts of Bangladesh up to 2012. In 2011, 143 cases were lodged compared to 117 cases in 2010. A total number of 113 suspects were arrested in 2011 while 111 were arrested in 2010 in connection with human trafficking. In total, 45 cases were disposed of during 2012 of 108 persons. During 2012, 11 persons were convicted and 97 persons acquitted in 37 cases by the courts.108 Between 2004 and 2012, a total of 573 cases have been disposed. Out of these cases, 205 cases concluded in conviction and 368 cases ended in acquittal. A total of 345 accused persons have been convicted, out of which 8 accused persons were awarded death sentences, 250 accused persons were sentenced to imprisonment for life and 87 accused persons were punished with imprisonment of various duration. However, 1,065 persons were acquitted of allegations in 368 cases.109 79. During 2012, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), among others, conducted 145 operations and rescued 182 victims which included children. In this connection, 276 persons had been arrested by RAB. During 2012, Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) rescued and recovered 86 children (with another 255 women) and arrested 10 criminals in this regard.110 105 Supra 11, Section 6. Ibid. 107 Supra 100, Section 10(2). 108 See Ministry of Home Affairs, Combating Human Trafficking, Bangladesh Country Report, 2012, p. 9. 109 Ibid. 110 Ibid. 106 28