Govt to form commission to stop rape
The government is considering formation of a commission to prevent rape and violence against women as the number of such incidents is on the rise.
"We will very soon start working to constitute a commission in line with the High Court directive to stop rape and violence against women," Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star yesterday.
In reply to a question, he said, "We will bring necessary amendment to the Nari O Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain [Women and Children Repression Prevention Act]-2000 to ensure proper punishment for the offenders."
The number of rape victims in Bangladesh doubled in 2019 from the previous year as 1,413 women were either gang-raped or subjected to rape last year. Of them, 76 were killed after rape and 10 others died by suicide, says a study report of Ain o Salish Kendra, a leading rights organisation.
The number of rape victims was 732 in 2018 and 818 in 2017, said the report published on December 31.
The HC, following a writ petition, on January 19 directed the government to form a commission under the law ministry to stop rape and violence against women.
It ordered the law secretary to form the commission, to be led by an additional secretary of the ministry, within 30 days from receiving its copy.
The commission comprises representatives from lawyers, judges, rights activists, media persons, physicians, and victims if they agree.
The HC also asked the commission, to be formed, to make recommendations within the next six months on how to stop rape incidents.
The bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader also issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why rapists should not be awarded capital punishment if the rape victim is under 16.
Contacted, Deputy Attorney General Abdullah-Al-Mahmud Bashar told this correspondent yesterday that the bench recently modified the order for formation of the commission as there is no additional secretary in the law ministry.
In the modified order, the HC asked the law secretary to form a commission to be led by a joint secretary of the ministry, he added.
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