The government plans to introduce capital punishment in rape cases as protests have continued over the recent incidents of sexual violence against women, report agencies.
A proposal for the legal amendment will be placed at a cabinet meeting on Oct 12, Law Minister Anisul Huq told bdnews24.com on Thursday.
"We are making the proposal on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's orders. We will propose an amendment to the penalty in the current law by including capital punishment for rapists," he said.
Different organisations have been protesting in Dhaka's Shahbagh and other parts of the country since Tuesday over the assault of a woman in Noakhali and the rape of another in Sylhet's MC College.
Rape incidents, however, continued to make headlines. A platform of leftist student groups - Bangladesh Against Rape - called a rally at Shahbagh for Friday.
Many of the protesters have demanded death penalty for the rapists. Some netizens suggested the suspects be shot dead in so-called "crossfire".
Local and international human rights groups have issued statements condemning the incidents, and calling for legal and social reforms
People from different walks of life, including students, staged demonstrations across the country for the 4th consecutive day on Thursday as anger mounted over the growing incidents of rape and sexual harassment of women.
According to reports, people in different parts of the country took to the streets and raised their voices demanding that rapists be given stringent punishment.
The public fury mounted in recent days after the recent gang-rape incident at Sylhet MC College and housewife's molestation in Begumganj of Noakhali district.
In Dhaka, the students of Viqarunnisa Noon School & College took positions in front of its campus on Thursday and staged demonstrations demanding toughest punishment of the rapists.
Several hundred students thronged in front of the campus with placards and chanted slogans demanding steps to bring the rapists under the ambit of law.
They also formed a human chain and left the place after one and half and hours, said Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Ramna Police Station.
Besides, several hundred activists of different organisations, including Chhatra Union, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology and Bangladesh skateboarding community took positions at Shahbagh intersection demanding exemplary punishment and speedy trial for all the convicted rapists.
The protesters shouted slogans 'Hang the rapists', 'Break the hands of rapists'. They were carrying placards with different messages - "No mercy to rapists" and "Please tell me, am I next?"
On Thursday, some students of left-leaning student bodies started protests in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh around 11.30am.
The protesters also demanded the resignation of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for his failure to stop rape across the country.
