Bangladesh forms special legal team for women and children repression cases
The Attorney General of Bangladesh has announced the formation of a special legal team dedicated to handling High Court hearings on death-reference cases under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. This initiative aims to expedite the judicial process in cases involving severe offenses against women and children.
Formation of the Special Legal Team
On June 11, 2026, Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal revealed the establishment of a specialized legal team to represent the state in High Court hearings concerning death-reference cases under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The team is led by the Attorney General himself and includes Deputy Attorneys General Osman Chowdhury, Mehedi Hasan, and Jamiul Haque Faisal, as well as Assistant Attorney General Dewan Humayun Kabir Ripon.
Purpose and Scope
The primary objective of this team is to ensure swift and efficient handling of death-reference cases, particularly those involving heinous crimes against women and children. The formation of this team underscores the government's commitment to delivering prompt justice in such sensitive cases.
Context: The Ramisa Rape and Murder Case
The formation of the special legal team comes in the wake of the high-profile case involving the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa in Dhaka's Pallabi area. The trial court sentenced the prime accused, Sohel Rana, and his wife, Swapna Khatun, to death for their roles in the crime. The death reference for this case has been sent to the Supreme Court for confirmation, a mandatory judicial process for death sentences.
High Court Bench for Women and Children Repression Cases
In a related development, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury constituted a special High Court bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja. This bench is exclusively tasked with hearing and disposing of cases involving death sentences awarded under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The bench is set to commence proceedings on June 14, 2026.
Implications for the Judicial System
The establishment of both the special legal team and the dedicated High Court bench reflects a concerted effort to address the backlog of cases involving severe offenses against women and children. These measures are expected to expedite the judicial process, ensuring that justice is served promptly and effectively.
Conclusion
The formation of a specialized legal team and a dedicated High Court bench marks a significant step in Bangladesh's judicial system, particularly in handling cases under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. These initiatives demonstrate the government's commitment to upholding justice and protecting the rights of vulnerable populations.
