Rapists are beasts: PM

Describing rapists as "beasts", Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government has to induct the death sentence in the relevant law to save girls from these beasts.

"Rapists are [like] beasts as they exhibit their inhumane nature… we've included capital punishment for rape…we've cleared the amendment [proposal] in the cabinet," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a programme marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2020.

Read more: Rapists to face death penalty

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief arranged the event at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. The Prime Minister joined the programme from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

As parliament is not in session now, Sheikh Hasina said, the government is promulgating an ordinance to make the amendment effective.

The Prime Minister's bold remarks came as protests against the rise in rape, sexual harassment and violence against women are continuing in different parts of the country.

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

The theme of this year's International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is "Disaster risk governance" while the theme for Bangladesh has been set as "Good Governance to Reduce Disaster Risk, Ensure Sustainable Development".

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman presided over the programme where Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Disaster Management and Relief AB Tajul Islam and Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md Mohsin also spoke.

Bedeni Nurunnahar and Md Reazul Huq expressed their feelings as they received disaster resilient houses from the government.

Earlier, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman, on behalf of the Prime Minister, handed over awards among the winners of best volunteers.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated newly-built 17,005 disaster resilient houses virtually and induction of volunteers, and unveiled the cover of 'Standing Orders of Disaster' book.  

As a delta land, the Prime Minister said, Bangladesh has to face natural calamities like cyclone, tidal wave, flood, earthquake, fire, river erosion and drought.

She said the government has already started implementing a long-term plan called Delta Plan 2100 to develop the country.

Hasina said the government is dredging rivers to increase their navigability and depth, re-excavating canals, beel, ponds and wetlands so that enough water can be preserved in those.

She said capital dredging should be done for rivers so that these could contain water during the floods.

The Prime Minister said the government's aim is to advance the country maintaining natural equilibrium and overall development.

She asked the authorities concerned to strictly maintain the smooth flow of waters in wetlands, rivers, canals and beel. "If we keep filling up wetlands, rivers, canals and beel out of greed, and construct buildings, it'll cause water-logging, destroy natural balance affecting the country." 

The Prime Minister briefly described various measures the government has taken to improve the disaster management system of the country and face the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.