State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatunnessa Indira has said the amendment of the Prevention of Women & Children Repression Act-2000 to include death penalty for perpetrators of rape is a milestone for women empowerment in Bangladesh.
She made the remarks after a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon.
“There is no place for rapists in Bangladesh. That’s why our ministry submitted the proposal for the amendment to the cabinet,” she said.
Indira also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other cabinet members for supporting the amendment.
Earlier on Thursday, Law Minister Anisul Huq said that his ministry had made a proposal for approving death penalty as the highest punishment for rape.
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On Monday, the cabinet approved the amendment of the Prevention of Women & Children Repression Act-2000 to include death penalty for perpetrators of rape.
A series of rape incidents have rocked Bangladesh in recent weeks, triggering countrywide protests.
According to Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), between January and September of 2020, nearly 1,000 rape cases were reported, including 208 gang rapes.