To expedite justice for child rape cases, law advisor Asif Nazrul has announced that amendments to the law—including provisions for a special tribunal—will be made by Thursday.
At a press conference held on Monday (March 17) at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in Dhaka, he stated that the Prevention of Women and Children Repression Act is being amended to shorten trial and investigation periods. A dedicated tribunal will be established to exclusively handle child rape cases.
A special meeting of the advisory council was held today to discuss these changes. After the meeting, environmental, forest, and climate change ministry advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan and chief advisor's press secretary Shafiqul Alam joined Asif Nazrul at the press conference.
Key Amendments and Decisions
Advisor Rizwana stated that due to the increasing incidents of rape and violence against women, the advisory council convened to revise the Prevention of Women and Children's Repression Act. The council has reached a policy decision to amend the law. In light of recent rape and murder cases in Magura and Barguna, the law ministry has proposed several amendments to the 2000 Act. These proposals will be reviewed, and final approval is expected by Thursday (March 20).
Additionally, to ensure faster trials, the council has decided to increase the number of DNA testing laboratories and appoint more judges. At present, there is only one DNA lab in Dhaka. Plans are underway to establish two more labs in Chattogram and Rajshahi. A special judicial service commission will also be introduced to expedite the recruitment of judges, ensuring quicker resolutions for rape and other criminal cases.
Addressing Case Delays and Legal Reforms
Asif Nazrul highlighted that a significant backlog of rape cases exists due to two categories of cases:
- Cases involving consensual relationships where rape is alleged under the false promise of marriage.
- Cases of non-consensual rape.
The large number of cases related to deception in consent is delaying the trials of genuine rape cases. To address this, the revised law will categorize such deceptive consent cases separately while prioritizing the swift investigation and trial of non-consensual rape cases. These high-priority cases will be referred to the special tribunal when necessary.
He further explained that in high-profile rape cases, judges will be allowed to issue verdicts based on circumstantial evidence rather than waiting for DNA test results. The new law will also classify physical harm caused to a victim during a failed rape attempt as a punishable offense.
Regarding the recent rape and murder of child Aasiya in Magura, Asif Nazrul clarified that this case will proceed under existing laws. The trial will begin within days and conclude swiftly, as there is substantial and irrefutable evidence. He emphasized that the amendments to the law are unrelated to this specific case but are intended to improve the overall judicial process.
