Death penalty will bring down rape incidents

Law Minister Anisul Huq said on Monday the amendment toWomen and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance- 2020, prescribing death penalty highest punishment in rape cases, would certainly bring down the incidents of rape, reports BSS.

The minister came up with the remarks while speaking at a press briefing at his Gulshan residence in the city after the cabinet approved the draft of the 'Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance- 2020' incorporating death as capital punishment in rape cases.

"On the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, I proposed to amend the section 9 (1) of the act, incorporating death sentence along with the life imprisonment as maximum punishment for rape. Changes are being made in section 9 (4) as well," he said.

The minister said the government is taking preparation to issue this amendment as ordinance today (Tuesday) following the President's order.

"There are many debates regarding the death sentence worldwide. In spite of these, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thinks punishment should be enhanced due to the current situation and we've brought the amendment for this. Apart from these, we have decided to dispose of the old rape cases first and the new ones as soon as possible," he added.

Anisul Huq further said he will request the chief justice for a practice direction so that the judges of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals take necessary steps to dispose of the cases as soon as possible.