NN Online:
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on Sunday announced that essential legal reforms will be introduced to guarantee that rape investigations are concluded within 15 days and trials are completed within 90 days of case filing.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon, he said the government will bring some amendments into relevant laws to expedite the trial process of rape cases and the legal changes will be brought within a week, the adviser said at the secretariat.
Even if authorities fail to complete a trial within 90 days, the accused cannot secure bails simply on this ground, Asif Nazrul noted. Furthermore, when deemed prudent to expedite trials, a judge can use a simple medical document, certifying the victim as a rape victim, as evidence.
According to the existing law, the trial of rape cases has to be completed by 180 days. In 2020, the government brought changes in laws and made it mandatory for disposal of rape cases within 180 days and introduced death penalty in rape cases.
Asif Nazrul said acquiring DNA certificates can delay trial of rape cases so the interim government will take steps to set up DNA forensic labs in every district.
Furthermore, the appointed investigation officer has to complete his/her work within 15 days, the law adviser told reporters. Previously, the officer had to complete the investigation within 30 days, and upon failure could be replaced.
Asif Nazrul said the home ministry will soon launch a toll-free hotline for preventing sexual abuses and harassment on the streets. A dedicated home ministry cell will monitor the hotline. The law ministry will also form a dedicated cell to monitor rape cases.
At the meeting, Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam said awareness video materials will be prepared with support from the culture ministry. The government will also sit down with media figures to calibrate news over mob justice to disseminate the truth among people, the information adviser said.
