C T Online Desk: The interim government has in principle decided to bring necessary changes to the existing Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, including introducing a provision, to have a tribunal to deal with child rape cases.
“A final approval [on the proposed amendments] is likely to come on Thursday,” Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy on Monday afternoon.
The decision came at a special meeting of the council of advisers with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were also present at the briefing.
Asif Nazrul said the time for trial and investigation will also be shortened in line with the government’s efforts to deal with cases in an expedited manner.
He added that there is no relation between the proposed changes and the case of the Magura victim as her case will be settled in an expedited manner.
The adviser said the DNA report of the Magura girl case will be found in two to three days, and the trial in the case will begin soon and the case will be settled soon as there is evidence.
Rizwana said a good number of amendments were placed from the Law Ministry before the meeting and the council of advisers in principle agreed on those.
“We have already received some opinions and we will scrutinize these opinions tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. We expect the proposed amendments will get final approval on Thursday,” she said.
Adviser Rizwana said a lack of adequate DNA labs is one of the reasons for the delay in settling rape-related cases and at this moment there is only one DNA lab.
She said the government decided to set up two more DNA labs quickly in Chittagong and Rajshahi.
The adviser also said some judges will quickly be appointed through a special judicial service commission so that rape case trials and other cases can be expedited.
She said they are observing that anarchy is going on in the name of damaging shrines and the government remained reactive with appropriate steps.
Rizwana said the government will in no way accept any shrine destruction and urged all to refrain from such activities.
The government also warned of tougher actions in line with the law if anyone is found involved in damaging shrines.
