Bangladesh opposition MP wants extra-legal killings of rapists

Amid criticism of Bangladesh law enforcers for alleged extrajudicial killings, opposition Jatiya Party’s Kazi Firoz Rashid has once again spoken in favour of so-called ‘crossfire’ in parliament.

The MP also sought amendment to related laws for summary trial of rapists in Tuesday’s session, referring to the ‘recent rise’ in the incidence of rape.

He noted that a suspect was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with the Rapid Action Battalion or RAB while fleeing after allegedly raping a 9-year-old girl in Ashulia in March.

“Two RAB members have been injured, rapist killed – people want to see this,” Rashid said.

“There will be rapes on moving buses every day, and they will use the loopholes in the law? Things can’t go on this way. People want to see whether punishment ha been meted out or not,” he added.

The MP referred to the rape and murder of college student Jakia Sultana Rupa in Tangail in August last year and the rape of a garment factory worker in Dhamrai on Sunday. 

He said the sexual assault of the garment worker would not have happened had Rupa’s murderers been punished in an ‘exemplary way’.

He thinks the five suspects arrested in Dhamrai will not be brought to justice finally.  

“They have been arrested. That's good, but it's unlikely they will be punished,” he said.  

He also has his doubts about the execution of the death sentences of the murderers of Rupa.

“The trial court has sentenced them to death. They will move the High Court where the points of laws will be discussed. There is also the Supreme Court, and finally the scope of presidential clemency,” Rashid said.

“No one will know in which jail and when they are hanged,” he said.

The Jatiya Party MP also mentioned self-confessed serial killer Rasu Khan, who was sentenced to death in different cases, including one this year, while he was arrested nearly a decade ago.  

“This hanging will not stop gang-rapes. People want to see immediate justice,” he said.

“Could you arrest and try the 10 militants shot dead in Mirpur (Kalyanpur)? It would not be possible to tame militants without gunfights,” he said.

He proposed shortening trial period for rape cases. “Try the rapists in one or three months of summery trials. Why should you spend 12 years to try them?” he asked.

“Bring changes to the law, we will vote for its passage in parliament. Otherwise, we will not be able to save the women’s honour,” he said.

Rashid urged Law Minister Anisul Huq to place amendments to the related laws in the next session.

He claimed the Jatiya Party, when it was in power, stopped acid violence by hanging four offenders in three months.

“But you can’t do this, because you are ultra-democratic,” he added.

Speaking in parliament on Sept 28, 2016, the legislator made a similar call to stop abuse of women and children, arguing that there was no harm in having the abusers killed extra-legally.