Bangladesh cabinet approves capital punishment for rape

Bangladesh Cabinet approved a draft law to include death penalty as the highest punishment for rape. This will be done by amending the Prevention of Women and Children Repression Act-2000. This decision was taken after the Cabinet meeting which was Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka on October 12, 2020.

Highlights

• The Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of Bangladesh is Anisul Haq.
• The minister highlighted that the ordinance will be issued after the President approves it.
• Currently, the highest punishment for rape in Bangladesh is life imprisonment. However, capital punishment is allowed if the rape victim dies.
• The decision to amend the punishment was taken after a series protests triggered in the aftermath of sexual assaults.

Rapes in Bangladesh

In between January and August 2020, around 890 rapes have occurred. It also include gang rapes. Out of these, around 40 victims have died.

Capital Punishment

The punishment is also called as death penalty. It involves the execution of an offender sentenced to death after the court of law convicts a criminal offense.