Perpetrators in reported rape cases belonged to several socio-economic groups, including fathers, close relatives, law enforcers, public representatives, political leaders and even clerics. GOVERNMENT ELEVATED RAPE PUNISHMENTWith the escalating number of rape cases in Bangladesh, the United Nations expressed “serious concerns” in October over the incidents. Facing the protests, the government initiated a legal amendment to elevate the maximum punishment in rape cases to death from life imprisonment. On Oct 12, President Md Abdul Hamid issued an ordinance elevating the maximum punishment in rape cases to the death sentence. The initiative to elevate the highest punishment for rape, however, failed to curtail the rape incidents, substantiated the Ain O Salish Kendra report.

Source: bd News24 December 30, 2020 19:29 UTC