26,695 rape cases filed in five years

In the last five years, 26,695 rape cases were filed with police stations across the country. 

Of the cases, 4,331 were filed in 2016; 4,683 in 2017; 4,695 in 2018; 6,766 in 2019; and 6,220 till October 2020. 

The information was found in a report submitted to the High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Mohi Uddin Shamim on Wednesday on behalf of the Inspector General of Police.

The report signed by Additional Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Rezaul Karim was submitted by Deputy Attorney General Nowroz Mohammad Russell Chowdhury and Assistant Attorney General MMG Sarwar Payal.

Advocate Yadia Zaman and Advocate Shahinuzzaman Shaheen were in favour of a writ petition filed seeking directives to declare arbitration in rape cases as a criminal offense.

The court also constituted a three-member high-level committee headed by Registrar General of the Supreme Court Mohammad Ali Akbar to monitor the implementation of the High Court's directive to dispose of rape cases within 180 working days.

The other two members of the committee are Additional Secretary of the Public Security Division of the home ministry Mohammad Jahangir Alam or his representative (not below the rank of additional secretary) and the law secretary or his representative (not below the rank of additional secretary).

Advocate Shahinuzzaman Shaheen, counsel for the writ petitioner, said the court has fixed 23 May for the next hearing of the case.

Earlier on 21 October, the High Court issued a rule asking as to why arbitrations for rapes would not be illegal.

At the same time, the court directed the authorities to monitor whether the High Court's directive to dispose of rape cases within 180 working days is being implemented.

The court also wanted a ten-year statistic of rape cases filed in police stations across the country.

On 16 October last year, Advocate Yadia Zaman and Advocate Shahinuzzaman Shahin filed the writ petition on behalf of the human rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra.

On 13 October, Advocate Yadia Zaman served a legal notice on the respondents seeking implementation of the law and the directives of the High Court in rape cases.

But the writ petition was filed as no action was taken in view of the notice.