Cabinet clears ordinance for death penalty to rapists

The Cabinet approved a draft amended law recommending the death penalty for simple rape following unbridled abuses and sex assault of women throughout the country.

At a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday, the draft was approved.

Earlier, as per previous law, a person accused of simple rape was subject to punishment by life imprisonment. 

Through amending the statute, the government is expected to enact capital punishment for abusers, as the recent spate of sexual harassment against women has sparked a national public outcry for the death penalty for criminals.

To this effect, at a weekly cabinet meeting, a draft of an amendment to the law was put forward.