Staff Correspondent:
President Abdul Hamid signed an ordinance to pave way for providing the death penalty for those convicted of raping.

The new law will be enacted today.

An ordinance has been promulgated on Tuesday on the amendment of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, incorporating the provision of the death penalty for rape so that the law can be applied quickly.

Earlier on Monday, the cabinet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair approved the death penalty for rapists amid nationwide protests in the wake of a series of gang rapes and sexual assaults.

On that day, Law Minister Anisul Huq said: "As the parliament session is not running at present, the government is preparing to issue an ordinance tomorrow under the president's order."

Following the amendment, "Lifetime Rigorous Imprisonment" mentioned in Section 9(1) of the Act would be replaced by "Death or Lifetime Rigorous Punishment", the law minister noted.