A landmark initiative to fast-track justice for child rape victims is stalling in its infancy, as the capital’s sole specialised tribunal collapses under a deluge of inherited files and a steady stream of new filings.
Despite the legal mandate for dedicated reform, the court is currently operating without a single permanent staff member, leaving a handful of officials on deputation to “single-handedly” re-register thousands of files.
The administrative gridlock risks transforming a “fast-track” solution into a systemic bottleneck, further delaying closure for hundreds of victims under 16.
For families caught in this judicial limbo, the “specialised” label offers little comfort.
Humayun Kabir, the father of a 14-year-old victim, has not seen the inside of a courtroom for nearly two years. “We last appeared in court in July 2024. The accused did not appear, and since then, no one has informed us of any updates,” he said.
Like many others, Kabir was unaware his daughter’s case had even been moved. “We have still not been informed by the court or the police. We demand that the trial be concluded without delay.”
The Tribunal for the Suppression of Child Rape Crimes in the capital has inherited nearly 2,700 cases from nine Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals, according to court sources.
Since beginning operations with a separate bench in January this year, it has also registered around 250 new cases, further compounding the pressure.
The court was established following an amendment to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000, which introduced a new section – 26A – providing for dedicated tribunals. A gazette notification issued in October 2025 created 72 such courts nationwide.
Before the tribunal became fully operational, the Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 had been handling child rape cases. During that period, 119 cases were recorded. After the new court began functioning independently in 2026, nearly 250 additional cases were filed.
Under the revised legal framework, all cases involving rape victims under 16 were transferred from nine tribunals in Dhaka. Tribunal-9 sent the highest number, with 682 cases, followed by Tribunal-4 (597) and Tribunal-3 (around 500). Tribunal-5 transferred about 213 cases, Tribunal-6 sent 208, Tribunal-2 around 150, Tribunal-8 sent 137, Tribunal-7 around 100, and Tribunal-1 transferred 62 cases.
Of the nearly 2,700 cases now before the specialised tribunal, only 1,042 had been newly registered there by mid-March, reflecting the administrative burden of reprocessing transferred cases before trials can proceed.
That burden is exacerbated by a lack of permanent staff. No dedicated posts have yet been created, leaving officials on deputation to manage the caseload.
“I am single-handedly registering all these cases. Each case has to be assigned a new number, and then the trials will begin again. It is very difficult to handle the recording of so many cases alone,” said one employee, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Pankaj Peter Gomez, a bench assistant, said the court was grappling with a heavy workload despite limited manpower. “Two of us, including myself, have been posted here on deputation. Earlier, I served in the 9th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court,” he said.
Advocate Morsheda, the state prosecutor, said the influx of cases from multiple tribunals had slowed progress. “We, along with the honourable judge and staff here, are working very actively, and we are trying to ensure that the work is completed as quickly as possible,” she said.
“Many factors affect how a court operates. It could be easier to organise and speed up the process if the number of cases is lower,” she added, expressing concern over the rising number of rape incidents.
While child rights activists have welcomed the specialised courts, they warn that a law is only as good as its implementation.
UKM Farhana Sultana, a prominent child rights activist, praised the move as a “positive initiative” long demanded by the sector but criticised the hollowed-out execution.
“The real problem is not a lack of laws but the failure to implement them effectively,” Farhana Sultana said.
She emphasised that Dhaka’s high population density necessitates more than one such court to be effective. “More courts should be established... what matters now is how quickly cases can be resolved.”
Farhana Sultana also stressed the urgent need for permanent staff, arguing that the government has the capacity to resolve the staffing crisis swiftly. “If the judicial process drags on, children will be deprived of justice,” she warned.
The strain is not limited to the new tribunal. The nine Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals in Dhaka continue to face a heavy caseload, with around 15,800 cases pending. Tribunals 3 and 4 alone account for roughly 2,700 cases each, underscoring the wider strain on the judicial system.
Courtesy: Daily Sun.
Bd-pratidin Engliish/TR
