DRAFT ORDINANCE APPROVED: 7 yrs jail for sex under false marriage pledge

Staff Reporter :

The government has approved the draft amendment to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, setting a maximum punishment of seven years for illicit sexual intercourse committed under a false promise of marriage.

The amendment, aimed at expediting the trial process for rape cases, received final approval during a meeting at the Chief Adviser’s Office, chaired by Chief Adviser (CA) Muhammad Yunus.

Following the meeting, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, including CA’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

Earlier, on March 12, the government prepared the draft amendment, cutting the trial and investigation time for rape cases by half.

Subsequently, on March 17, the government decided to establish a separate special tribunal to handle child rape cases, ensuring a quicker trial process.

Several amendments to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 were also approved in principle.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul stated that a gazette notification regarding the amendments is expected to be published on Thursday (March 20).

He also mentioned that the law now features a broader definition of rape while reducing the duration for trials and investigations.

The Advisory Council also approved amendments to the Public Procurement Ordinance to enhance transparency, foster competition, and dismantle monopolistic syndicates in public procurement.

Under the amended ordinance, the provision that rejected tender proposals if the estimated value was less than 10percent has been abolished.

Additionally, the existing matrix for evaluating bids—previously favoring the same organizations repeatedly—will be replaced by a new capacity matrix to ensure fairer competition.

Another key amendment addresses complexities surrounding the ownership of abandoned houses.

Under previous regulations, individuals who had received allotments of such houses could not have them mutated in their names.

The new amendment resolves this issue, allowing proper ownership documentation.

In addition, the government has extended the Eid holiday by one extra day on April 3 to facilitate public convenience. Furthermore, an optional holiday has been declared on Social Day for all ethnic communities residing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

These decisions reflect the government’s commitment to judicial efficiency, fair public procurement, and inclusivity in national policies.