Bangladesh’s government approved an amendment to allow the death penalty for rape cases during a virtual meeting headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
The decison comes after protests erupted across Bangladesh last week, after reports of horrific violence against women plagued the mainstream media.
Non-profit organization, Ain O Salish Kendra, recorded 632 rape incidents in the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, between April and August of this year in Bangladesh.
Activists and public university student bodies put forward a seven-point mandate demanding justice for survivors and for specific laws and courts to be set up to quickly punish rapists.
The Bangladeshi government amended the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 to introduce the death penalty for rapists.
It was last amended in 2003.
A presidential declaration for the new provision to come into effect is expected today.