Riot, Woman & Child Repression, Kidnapping, Police Assault in consideration Crime condition in Bangladesh
Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed of DOT :
The rate of crime is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. Along with the modification, amendment and modernization of applicable laws, the mode of crime has also been modified. Riot, Woman & Child Repression, Kidnapping, Police Assault are very well-known and most happened crimes in Bangladesh.
The crime rate data:
Total number of crimes in the year 2010 for riot was 130, for woman & child repression wass 11,752, for kidnapping wass 870 and police assault was 473 and the same are 26, 16253, 444 and 811 respectively for the year 2018 (Source: https://www.police.gov.bd/en ) The laws governing the aforesaid crimes
The criminal laws of Bangladesh cover these crimes with definition, grounds, punishments etc. The applicable laws for riot are Penal Code, 1860, Police Act, 1861; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898; Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1976; Chittagong Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1978 and the Khulna Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1985.
The Prevention of Women & Children Repression Act 2000 (Amended in 2012) is the applicable law for Woman & Child Repression.
Penal Code, 1860,Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 and Whipping Act, 1909 are the laws for kidnapping and police assault.
The Highest & Lowest Punishment for Riot
Punishment for Riot:
For any period at lower level,which may be extended up to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Punishment for Woman & Child Repression:
At least one year in lower level up to lifetime imprisonment and death sentence as well. It depends upon the nature of the crime, age of the child or woman, result of the crime, scenario etc. Along with the aforesaid punishments, fine may be included in certain circumstances.
Punishment for Kidnap:
For any period of simple or rigorous punishment in lower level up to death sentence depends upon nature, result and circumstances of the crime and the age of victim as well. Fine may be included in certain cases.
Punishment for Police Assault:
The punishment for police assault is not particularly defined in The Penal Code, 1860 but the punishment of assault done by any person is defined accordingly.
For any term at lower level, which may be extended up to three years or fine or both. Analysis of the data and geographical condition of the crime
The crime rate of these offences is not the same in all over Bangladesh. The rate is different from region to region. In Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi region the rate of these crimes is high. In Khulna, Rangpur, Barisal & Sylhet region the rate of these crimes is almost similar and fluctuated between a certain range. Upon all these crimes the rate of riot is lowest. As per the record 56 riots have taken place in Chittagong in the year 2013. And in most of these years, no riot happened in the maximum region of Bangladesh. On the other hand, the rate of woman & child repression is highest. In 2012, 5115 woman & child repression cases been recorded in Dhaka region which is the highest rate of this particular crime among all the regions since 2010. Comparative police assault and kidnapping is less in number. Dhaka region has the highest number of cases recorded in these two categories also whereas the railway range has the lowest number of cases in record.
Conclusion
After scrutinizing the statistical record, it could be said that the women and children of Bangladesh remain in danger of being repressed. This crime is the mostly happened crime of this country right now. Everyday police cases have been filed for this crime. But there is a light of hope that the rate is decreasing in last few years. But this would not be enough if the administration and law enforcing bodies of Bangladesh do not become stricter and do not enforce the laws properly. The punishments and the laws should be modified and modernized with time.
Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed is an Advocate of Bangladesh Supreme Court and Executive Editor of Daily Our Time.