Futurebd Desk:

Law Minister Anisul Haque on Thursday said that a proposal on the death penalty for rapists would be placed before the next cabinet meeting.

“The law is being amended to introduce the death penalty as the maximum punishment for rape, which will be placed before the next cabinet meeting,” he said.

The decision was made following the instructions of the Prime Minister, the minister added.

As per the section 375 of the Penal Code 1860: “Whoever commits rape shall be punished with 2 [imprisonment] for life or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine, unless the woman raped is his own wife and is not under twelve years of age, in which case he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.”

According to the law of Bangladesh, “A man is said to commit “rape” who except in the case hereinafter excepted, has sexual intercourse with a woman under circumstances falling under any of the five following descriptions:

Firstly, against her will.

Secondly, without her consent.

Thirdly, with her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her in fear of death, or of hurt.

Fourthly, with her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband, and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married.

Fifthly, with or without her consent, when she is under fourteen years of age.

Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual intercourse necessary to the offence of rape.

Exception: Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under thirteen years of age, is not rape.”

Earlier on Monday, the Law Minister said that the government has been considering to introduce the death penalty for rapists after nationwide outrage.

Recently, a young woman was gang-raped by miscreants after tying up her husband at the dormitory of Murari Chand (MC) College in Sylhet. Besides, a video went viral on social media, in which it has been seen that a housewife was tortured and sexually harassed by some local miscreants in Noakhali’s Begumganj.

A nationwide outrage has begun over these incidents. Protests against the growing incidents of rape, sexual harassment and violence against women have been continued over the country.

People took to the streets and social networking sites to register their strong protests. Women blacked out their Facebook profile photos condemning the incidents of violence against women. Some male FB users also joined the protest program.

Protesting the incidents, from all walks of life, including students, across the country staged demonstrations demanding capital punishment of the rapists. (Source: Online)