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The special bench will begin functioning on June 14, said Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal yesterday.

Speaking to reporters at his office on the Supreme Court premises, the attorney general said he had requested the chief justice to take such a step during proceedings at the Appellate Division.

“Senior lawyers Prabir Neogi and Md Salahuddin Dolon also supported my proposal, and around 200 lawyers present in the courtroom apparently agreed with me,” he said.

The move came amid growing concerns over delays in the disposal of death reference cases and appeals involving crimes against women and children.

A death reference is a mandatory judicial process through which a trial court’s death sentence is sent to the High Court for confirmation before it can be carried out.

Convicts sentenced to death also have the right to file appeals against their convictions and sentences.

During a briefing, Attorney General Ruhul Quddus said two accused persons have been sentenced to death by the trial court for the rape and murder of Ramisa.

However, a death sentence is not final until it is confirmed by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court.

Referring to the frequent calls for exemplary punishment in such cases, the attorney general said that public concern remains until the sentence is actually carried out.

He stated that he had drawn the chief justice’s attention, in open court, to the public’s concern that even after trial courts deliver judgements, delays in the hearing of appeals often prevent people from seeing those judgements implemented in a timely manner.

“I also told the chief justice that, in order to meet citizens’ expectations and ensure justice, the Supreme Court, the country’s highest court, has been playing an important role, but in many cases that role is not fully perceived by the public.

“I requested the chief justice to take proactive and effective measures to address the people’s concerns, which are entirely justified.”

The attorney general further said, “In response, the chief justice mentioned this matter and stated that, for cases filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, including the Pallabi child rape and murder case and similar cases, a dedicated bench of the High Court will be constituted to hear such matters. The bench will become operational from next Sunday [June 14].”