As many as 26,695 rape cases have been filed with various police stations across the country in the last five years till October 2020, said a report submitted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to the apex court.
The cases were lodged during a period from 2016 to October 2020, said the report which has been submitted recently, complying with an apex court directive.
On October 21 last year, the High Court issued a rule on the government authorities concerned to explain as to why they shall not be directed to stop settlement of rape complaints through arbitration.
The court also directed the IGP to submit a report stating the number of rape cases lodged with police stations during the last five years. Such order induced by a writ petition filed by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).
A division bench comprising Justice Mohammad Mujibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kamrul Hossain Molla will hold hear the report on May 23.
The IGP report said 4, 331 rape cases were filed in 2016; 4,683 in 2017; 4,695 in 2018; and 6,766 in 2019. Besides, 6,220 cases were filed till October 2020.
In another report, the Supreme Court administration informed the HC of constitution of a cell to monitor disposal off rape cases within the deadline set by the relevant law.
Registrar General of the Supreme Court is the head of the committee while the home secretary and the law secretary are members.
It may be mentioned that the law needs a rape case to be settled within 180 days of filing.
