Bangladesh High Court Forms Dedicated Bench to Expedite Child Abuse Death Penalty Appeals
Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury has established a specialized High Court bench to expedite the resolution of death reference cases and appeals involving crimes against women and children. The move follows a high-profile case in Mirpur, Dhaka, where an eight-year-old child was raped and murdered, prompting judicial authorities to address the systemic delays that often hinder the execution of lower court verdicts.
The newly formed division bench, comprised of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice K.M. Rashaduzzaman Raja, is scheduled to begin its operations on Sunday, June 14. According to a notice published on the Supreme Court’s website, the bench has been granted the authority to prioritize the confirmation of death sentences, as well as the hearing of criminal appeals, jail appeals, and revision applications stemming from judgments under the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act.
The initiative was spurred by the swift sentencing in the Mirpur incident, in which the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Repression Prevention Tribunal handed down death sentences to two defendants just 19 days after the crime occurred. Attorney General Md. Ruhul Quddus Kajol noted that the Chief Justice took personal interest in the matter, recognizing that lengthy appellate processes frequently prevent timely justice for victims and their families.
By dedicating a specific bench to these sensitive matters, the Supreme Court aims to clear the backlog of cases that have languished in the legal system. The move signals a concerted effort to ensure that capital sentences and related legal challenges are handled with greater urgency, addressing long-standing concerns regarding the efficiency of the judiciary in cases of child violence.
