Bangladesh Passes New Women, Child Protection Law Following Outrage

Bangladesh has enacted a new law to expedite the investigation and trial processes in rape cases, responding to national outrage after the rape and death of an eight-year-old girl, Arab News reported. The girl, who was staying with her sister-in-law, died six days after the incident in early March, prompting widespread protests across the country.

The new legislation reduces the investigation period for rape cases from 30 days to 15 days and the trial duration from 180 days to 90 days. A special tribunal will be established to handle child rape cases. Judges can now initiate trials based on medical certificates and circumstantial evidence, eliminating the mandatory requirement for DNA tests.

Despite more than 5,600 reported cases of rape involving girls under 18 in the past decade, many incidents go unreported. Advocates emphasize the need for quicker police responses and accountability for investigators to ensure effective implementation of the law.