March 17, 2025
DHAKA – As protests demanding justice for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Magura continue, discussions to expedite rape trials have duly been on the table. Last week, the law adviser mentioned cutting the investigation and trial procedure time by half. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Judicial Service Association (BJSA) has called for the establishment of 200 more Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals. Currently, 101 Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals are handling cases of violence against women and children across the country, with each one having, on average, around 1,500 cases pending.
Twenty-five years ago, under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000, authorities began setting up special tribunals to ensure speedy trials—to be completed within six months. Yet, more than 33,000 cases have been pending in these tribunals for over five years because there is often a lack of a support system to ensure the completion of trials within the stipulated time. As mentioned in this column before, challenges lie in several areas, including the thorough investigation of rape and other cases of violence against women (VAW), the availability of dedicated and well-equipped investigation cells, female police personnel in every police station to handle VAW cases, and inadequate forensic laboratories. In addition, interference or intimidation by influential quarters and the lack of proper incentives for police, prosecutors, and others involved in the legal process hinder the timely completion of trials.
Setting up 200 more tribunals would undoubtedly help ease the pressure, but an in-depth assessment of the current tribunals is required to identify the loopholes that cause bottlenecks in pending cases. Additionally, the digitalisation of the entire procedure—from case filing to evidence gathering to trial—must be implemented to ensure transparency and empower the complainant/victim to track the status of the case, understand reasons for any delays, and demand remedies if necessary. A commission is also needed to probe sexual harassment and physical and sexual violence against women and children, along with policies to reintegrate and rehabilitate survivors and ensure their protection through the establishment of more victim shelters. Finally, we need to address the social, cultural, and other traditional excuses that are used to condone such violence and eradicate toxic patriarchal norms that enable perpetrators.