New debate on punishment of rapists, Rashed Khan questions Jamaat-NCP

BNP leader Rashed Khan has sparked a new political debate on rape punishment and Sharia law. He claimed that Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP do not stand in favor of the death penalty for rapists, either publicly or by throwing stones. At the same time, he also commented that they want to stay away from Sharia law even though they are doing politics of Sharia law.

In his Facebook post on Thursday night, Rashed Khan, referring to the controversial rape and murder case of child Ramisa of Mirpur, wrote that the responsibility of the Home Ministry is to arrest the accused and that work has already been completed. He claimed that now the responsibility of the judicial process lies with the Law Ministry. He mentioned that the government has also assured a speedy investigation and trial.

In the post, he further questioned that if there is a discussion on the punishment of rapists under Sharia law, then Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP should clarify their position on the matter. He said that if they want the death penalty for rapists to be executed publicly, then they should officially inform about it.

In the last part of the Facebook post, Rashed Khan further commented that those who do politics of Sharia law but stay away from the issue of implementing Sharia law cannot claim to be an Islamic party. His statement has created new discussions in the social and political arena.