P ROTECTIO N S FO R V ICT IMS AND WIT NES SES OF C RIMES Dowry Prohibition Act, 2018 S UMMARY Protects women who face harassment or violence from their spouses over dowry and provides that demanding or giving dowry is a punishable offence, as is filing a false case alleging harassment based on claim of dowry. A PPL ICAB IL IT Y TO RO H I NGYA This Act contains no indication of jurisdiction. Therefore, Rohingya in Bangladesh should be covered by this Act. PROTECTIO N NOT ES Rohingya women who face harassment or violence over a dowry payment from their spouses, family members, or related persons, should benefit from the protections of this Act, while Rohingya victims of false claims should also be provided the protections therein. The 2018 Act introduced stricter punishments, including a life term or 12 years’ imprisonment for any individual inflicting harassment or violence on a woman over dowry, and 14 years’ imprisonment and fines for any individual who incites a woman to commit suicide over dowry. Female Rohingya victims of crimes related to dowry should be able to institute criminal proceedings against their abusers and avail themselves of the same procedural protections. Acid Control Act and Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2002 S UMMARY Provides licensing legislation for the import and sale of acid in open markets and introduces higher punishments, including capital punishment, for perpetrators. A PPL ICAB IL IT Y TO RO H I NGYA This Act applies to all persons in the territory of Bangladesh, without reference to citizenship. Therefore, Rohingya charged with the following offences in Bangladesh are covered by this Act: • causing death by acid; • causing hurt by acid; • throwing or attempting to throw acid; • abetting or inciting an acid crime; • lodging a false case or claim under this Act. PROTECTIO N NOT ES The Act provides under Section 9 that any money realized as a fine from the convicted person shall be given to the affected person or the heirs of that person. As the Act makes no reference to citizenship, Rohingya persons and families affected by an acid crime should similarly be entitled to compensation under this Act. Where the acid attack is prosecuted under the Prevention of Women and Child Repression Act (Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain) 2000, Amended 2003 and 2020 (Section 9), that Act supersedes the 2002 Acid Control Act. Prosecution under the 2000 Prevention of Women and Child Repression Act is favoured, where applicable, for it provides broader protections and is equally applicable to Rohingya. 48 BE YOND REFU GE: ADVANCING LEG AL PROTECTIONS FOR ROHINGYA C OMMUNITIES IN BANGL ADESH