Dhaka: To overcome persistent procedural barriers and low conviction rates in cases at the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals, a study has recommended a series of targeted measures focusing on enhancing prosecutorial efficiency, strengthening judicial oversight, improving investigation processes, and establishing effective protection mechanisms for victims and witnesses.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the proposals were made in a joint research conducted by the Bangladesh Supreme Court and BRAC titled “Procedural Barriers in Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals and Identification of Effective Ways to Address Those Barriers.”
“We have seen only three per cent of cases filed over violence against women and children result in convictions, while around 70 per cent end in acquittals. Approximately 13 per cent of cases are settled through compromise. Even though the law mandates disposal of cases within 180 working days, the average case disposal time stands at three years and seven months, with each case being adjourned an average of 22 times,” said former District and Sessions Judge Umme Kulsum while presenting the research findings as a consultant.
Kulsum said the findings are based on a review of documents and registers of 4,040 cases that were finally disposed of between January and June 2025 in 46 tribunals across 32 districts.
Although the objective of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000, was to ensure speedy justice, its full implementation remains elusive even after years of enactment. Key factors contributing to delays include the absence of complainants and witnesses, frequent adjournments, delays in investigation, weak evidence management, and lack of witness protection.
The study identified several key challenges behind procedural barriers, low conviction rates, and delays in case disposal. These include weak investigation and evidentiary systems, delays in medical and DNA reports, poor-quality or incomplete investigations, continued use of prohibited practices such as the two-finger test, and inadequate protection mechanisms for victims and witnesses. Other factors include social pressure leading to compromise or withdrawal of cases, limited awareness of legal rights, frequent adjournments and time petitions, lack of supervision in investigations, influence of accused persons-particularly when on bail-, inadequate training of investigators, prosecutors, and medical officers, insufficient infrastructure and human resources, and the absence of standard case management procedures.
The research recommended enhancing prosecutorial efficiency, strengthening case management and judicial oversight, improving investigation and evidence systems, establishing witness and victim protection mechanisms, and undertaking institutional reforms along with increased resource allocation.
“We can introduce performance evaluation systems for prosecutors, improve coordination between prosecution and investigation agencies, and provide specialised training on gender-based violence. We must strictly monitor legal timelines, the apex court can issue guidelines on case management, and unnecessary adjournments must be limited to ensure accountability. We also need to ensure timely forensic and medical reports while enhancing the capacity of investigating officers,” Umme Kulsum said while explaining the recommendations.
She also stressed ensuring confidential and victim-sensitive trial processes, expanding support services including legal aid, counselling and shelters, enacting a witness protection law, increasing the number of tribunals in high caseload districts, and expanding manpower and resources.
Despite having a strong legal framework, the effectiveness of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals remains limited due to procedural inefficiencies and systemic weaknesses, the study observed.
It emphasised that without urgent reforms, the promise of speedy justice may remain unfulfilled. Ensuring timely, fair, and victim-centred justice for women and children in Bangladesh requires coordinated, evidence-based reforms, strengthened judicial leadership, and robust institutional capacity.