President issues ordinance with provision of capital punishment for rape
President Md Abdul Hamid today issued an ordinance on the amendment of Nari O Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain (Women and Children Repression Prevention Act), incorporating the provision of capital punishment for rape.
Legislative and parliamentary affairs division of the law ministry also issued a gazette notification to this effect yesterday, saying the ordinance is titled as Nai O Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.
According to the ordinance, "Lifetime Rigorous Imprisonment" mentioned in Section 9(1) of the Act has been replaced by "Death or Lifetime Rigorous Punishment".
Read more: Rapists to face death penalty
It means the punishment for rape is death penalty or life imprisonment.
Earlier, the punishment for rape was only life imprisonment.
Amid countrywide protests denouncing violence against women, the cabinet on October 12 approved the proposal for the amendment of the act incorporating the provision of capital punishment or life imprisonment for committing the offence of rape.
Yesterday, Law Minister Anisul Huq told media that since parliament session is not running at present, the government has prepared to issue an ordinance on the amendment of Nari O Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain, 2000 in order to enforce the law quickly.
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