Bangladesh cabinet approves capital punishment for rape

Bangladesh Cabinet yesterday approved a draft law to include death penalty as the highest punishment for rape. The decision to amend the Prevention of Women and Children Repression Act-2000 was announced after the Cabinet meeting Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.

 

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Haq told the media that the ordinance will be issued after getting approval of the President as Parliament is not in session. Currently, the



highest punishment for rape is life imprisonment.

 

Bangladesh has been witnessing widespread protests over the last several days against the gang rape of a woman in Noakhali which came to light on 4th of October. Students, civil society groups and other organizations have been protesting in Dhaka and many other cities of Bangladesh to demand justice for the woman raped in Noakhali and other places in the country over the last few months.